SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt junior shortstop Ethan Burgreen (Winchester, Va./Millbrook) doubled home redshirt junior outfielder Ethan Jones (Oakton, Va./Oakton) in the bottom of the seventh to lift Shepherd (28-22, 14-14 PSAC East) to a 6-5 nightcap win over Shippensburg (29-19, 16-12 PSAC East) and a PSAC postseason berth in PSAC East baseball action at Fairfax Field on Friday. Shippensburg gained a 6-5 win in game one.
Shippensburg took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one when Evan Schoffler singled and later scored on a throwing error.
The Raiders took a 4-0 lead in the second on a solo blast from Kyle Ausgotharp and a two-run homer from Mason Morris.
Shepherd scored one in the second when redshirt junior outfielder Ethan Jones (Oakton, Va./Oakton) singled and later scored on a sacrifice-fly from freshman infielder Andrew O'Brien (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood).
Shippensburg took a 5-1 lead in the third when Ty Sherman doubled and later scored on a groundout from Brady Harbach.
The Raiders took a 6-1 lead in the fourth on a Thomas Cano-Piszel solo blast.
The Rams scored three runs in the fourth to cut the Raiders lead to 6-4. O'Brien hit a two-run double to key the rally.
Shepherd scored one run in the seventh when freshman outfielder Alex Rose (Oakton, Va./Oakton) hit a solo homer to cap the scoring.
Jones had two hits and scored a pair of runs for the Rams.
Cano-Piszel had a pair of hits with one run and one RBI to pace the Raiders.
Brenden Anderson (3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 K, 1 BB) (4-3) earned the win. Kaleb Maksimik (3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (1) earned the save. Senior pitcher Allen Miller (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon) (5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 K, 2 BB) (4-4) took the loss.
In the first inning of the nightcap, Shippensburg took a 3-0 lead on a two-run homer from Sherman and a solo blast from Will Oates.
Shepherd plated one in the first when redshirt junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) walked, stole second, reached third on an error, and later scored on a single off the bat of redshirt junior catcher Wyatt Lamb (Asbury, W.Va./Mt. Calvary Christian School (Pa.).
The Rams added a run in the second on a homer from Rose.
Shepherd gained a 5-3 lead in the sixth on a two-run blast from senior first baseman Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II).
Shippensburg tied the game 5-5 in the seventh on a two-run homer from AJ Wenrich.
Jones drew a leadoff walk in the seventh to set the stage for Burgreen's game-winning hit.
Freshman outfielder Sam Hefner (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson) had a pair of hits and scored two runs to pace the Rams.
Cano-Piszel had two hits and a pair of runs to pace Shippensburg.
Junior pitcher Cooper Bryan (Chester Springs, Pa./Malvern Prep) (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB) (2-1) earned the win. Jacob Dennis (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) (0-4) took the loss.
The Rams, the fifth seed in the Eastern Division, await word on the matchups for the conference tournament.