INDIANA, Pa. –  Shepherd University (12-6) dropped a pair of games to Indiana (Pa) (6-6) in baseball doubleheader action at IUP on Saturday. The Rams dropped a 7-2 decision in game one and came up short on an 8-7 outcome in the nightcap.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener when junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) walked and scored on a single from senior first baseman Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II). \

IUP tied the game at 1-1 in the third when Erik Rhodes singled and later scored on a wild pitch.\

The Crimson Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on a  run-scoring double from Devon Boyles

The Rams tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth on a solo blast from redshirt sophomore Infielder Ryan Fluharty (Burton, W.Va./Morgantown/USC Upstate). 

IUP rallied with five runs in the sixth highlighted by a Rhodes RBI-single to cap the scoring at 7-2. 

Fluharty went 2-for-3 with one run scored to pace the Rams.

Rhodes went 2-for-2, scored three runs, and drove in another to pace the Crimson Hawks.

Derrick Shields (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K) (2-0) earned the win. Junior pitcher Tre Rex (Barnesville, Ohio/Harrison Central/Akron) (0.1 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K) (0-1) took the loss. 

Shepherd took a 3-0 lead in third inning of the nightcap. The rally was highlighted by run-scoring doubles from Fluharty, Rubendall, and junior outfielder Ethan Jones (Oakton, Va./Oakton).

IUP scored three in the third highlighted by solo blasts from Ricardo Aponte and Cayden Bender. 

The Rams took a 4-3 lead in the fourth when Junior infielder Braylon Conner (Hedgesville, W.Va./Hedgesville/Hagerstown CC) reached on a hit-by-pitch and later scored on a fielder's choice. 

The Crimson Hawks took a 6-4 lead with three runs in the fifth. The rally was keyed by a run-scoring single from Anthony Annichine.. 

After IUP scored two in the sixth,  the Rams plated three in the seventh highlighted by a two-run blast from Rubendall. 

Fluharty went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to pace the Rams.

Aponte went 2-for-2 with one run scored and drove in two for the Crimson Hawks.

Sebastian Rosado-Guindin (0.1 Ip, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K, 1 BB) (1-0) picked up the win. Nathan Porath (0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 K, 0 BB) gained the save (1). Sophomore reliever Conner Chancey(Inwood, W.Va./Musselman/West Liberty) (2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) (0-1) took the loss.

The two teams return to action on Sunday at IUP for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.