SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University (6-8) swept West Liberty (4-7) in baseball action at Fairfax Field in the home-opening doubleheader for the Rams on Tuesday. The Rams recorded a 14-3 win in game one and added a 10-5 triumph in the nightcap.
West Liberty took a 1-0 lead in the second inning in game one on a RBI-single by Luke Marsh.
Shepherd tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI-single by sophomore second baseman
Nathaniel Brookshire (Winchester, Va./Millbrook).
The Rams scored four runs in the third as a two-run single by sophomore designated hitter
Thor Hildebrand (Glen Burnie, Md./North County) keyed the rally.
West Liberty cut the lead to 5-3 on a two-run single by Noah Mildren in the top of the fourth.
Shepherd responded with nine runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth. Senior third baseman
Aidan Greaney (New Windsor, Md./South Carroll/Frederick Community College) belted a grand slam to highlight the scoring outburst.
Sophomore outfielder
Jake Fix (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius), junior outfielder
Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood), and Hildebrand each had a pair of hits to lead a 13-hit attack for the Rams.
Will Balgo went 2-for-4 to lead the Hilltoppers.
Junior pitcher
Brayden Stottlemyer (Charles Town, W.Va./Washington) (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (1-0) picked up the win. John Thompson (1.1 IP, 11 H, 12 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) (0-1) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.
West Liberty grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first in the nightcap as Jacob Sherman walked and later scored when William Glick reached on a fielder's choice.
Shepherd tied the game in the second as Brookshire walked, stole second, and later scored on a single off the bat of Greaney.
The Rams took a 2-1 lead in the third as Pullen walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder
Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II).
Greaney belted a two-run homer in the fourth to up the lead to 4-1.
West Liberty cut the lead to 4-3 in the fifth behind an RBI-triple by Mildren and an RBI-single from Sherman.
Shepherd added six runs in the fifth with a two-run single by Brookshire and a three-run double by Fix keying the rally.
The Hilltoppers added a pair of runs in the seventh on a two-run single by Ryan Talbert.
Greaney went 2-for-2 to pace the Rams.
Talbert went 2-for-4 for West Liberty.
Freshman pitcher
Riley Morgan (Ranson, W.Va./Jefferson) (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB) (1-0) picked up the win for the Rams. Conner Chancey (2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 3 BB) (0-2) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Sunday when they host Indiana (Pa.) for a noon doubleheader. Shepherd will also host the Crimson Hawks for a doubleheader on Monday at noon. The four-game set was initially slated at IUP on Saturday and Sunday.
