CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shepherd University went 0-2 in season-opening softball action at Charleston on Friday. The Rams dropped a 1-0 decision to Charleston (4-2) in the early game and later came up short on a 7-2 outcome to Concord (5-3).
 
Charleston scored the game's only run in the first game in the sixth inning. Ella Zucchero doubled and moved to third on a bunt single by Bianca Polistino. Zucchero scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kayla Moran.
 
Junior infielder Cate Russian (Manassas, Va./Colgan) went 2-for-3 to pace the Rams.
 
Addison Mass (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 15 K, 4 BB) (2-0) gained the win for the Golden Eagles.  Junior pitcher Madelayne Ruffner (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 1 BB) (0-1) took the loss for the Rams.
 
Concord took a 1-0 lead in the second inning in the second game with an unearned run and added two more in the third as Kristy McCord drove in a run and later scored on a ground out.
 
Shepherd got a two-run blast from sophomore outfielder Haylee Hartman (Keedysville, Md./Boonsboro) in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
Alina Giles hit a solo homer in the fourth to up the lead to 4-2.
 
The Mountain Lions added three runs on two hits and an error in the seventh to close out the scoring.

Lacie Lewis went 2-for-4 to lead Concord.
 
Reghan Hintz (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 9 K, 2 BB) (2-2) gained the win. Sophomore pitcher Sam Colaw (Petersburg, W.Va./Petersburg) (6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 K, 2 BB) (0-1) took the loss.
 
The Rams return to action on Saturday when they play Charleston at 3 p.m. and Concord at 5:30 p.m.