SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University (19-12, 6-4 PSAC East) swept Mansfield (11-19, 2-8 PSAC East) in PSAC East baseball doubleheader action at Fairfax Field on Friday. The Rams gained a 9-3 triumph in game one and added a 12-8 victory in the nightcap.
Shepherd took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game one, highlighted by a redshirt junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) solo blast and a two-run homer from redshirt junior designated-hitter Wyatt Lamb (Asbury, W.Va./Mt. Calvary Christian School (Pa.).
After Mansfield scored one in the third, they tied the game 3-3 in the fifth with run-scoring singles from Nick Ledger and Brinden Floyd keying the rally
The Rams scored five runs on five hits in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead.
Shepherd capped the score at 9-3 in the sixth when Pullen singled and later scored on a double from redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Fluharty (Burton, W.Va./Morgantown/USC Upstate.
Pullen had three hits with three runs to pace the Rams.
Billy Riggs added a pair of hits to pace the Mountaineers.
Freshman pitcher Gavin Miller (Exeter Township, Pa./Exeter Township Senior) (4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 2 BB) (2-4) earned the win. Garrett Emerick (4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) (2-3) took the loss.
Mansfield took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap when Ryan Sekluski singled and later scored on a Peter Tadic single.
Shepherd took a 5-1 advantage in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a redshirt sophomore utility Colin Ahart (Pennsauken, N.J./St. Joseph Academy) run-scoring double to key the rally.
The Mountaineers added a pair of runs in the second. Cooper Rother belted a solo blast to key the rally.
Mansfield took an 8-5 lead with five runs in the third. Tanner Hoffman hit a two-run single to highlight the rally.
The Rams plated one in the third when freshman outfielder Sam Hefner (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson) singled and later scored on a single by Pullen.
The Rams took a 10-8 lead with four runs in the fifth. Redshirt junior shortstop Ethan Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) hit a two-run single and Pullen added a solo blast to key the rally.
Shepherd scored two in the sixth on a two-run homer off the bat of Fluharty to cap the score at 12-8.
Pullen went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and three runs batted in to pace Shepherd.
Cooper Rother went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs and two more batted in to pace Mansfield.
Redshirt junior pitcher Jesse Specter (Woolwich Township, N.J./Moorestown/West Chester) (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB) (3-0) earned the win. Matt Roder (0.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 K, 2 BB) (0-4) took the loss.
The Rams return to action Saturday when they host Mansfield for a doubleheader at 1 p.m Mansfield will be designated as the home team.
