SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Shepherd University (29-22) posted a 3-0 triumph over Slippery Rock (30-18) in first-round action of the PSAC Baseball Tournament at Slippery Rock on Wednesday.
Senior first baseman Nik Rubendall (East Norriton, Pa./Pope John Paul II) hit a solo homer to right center in the fourth inning to give Shepherd a 1-0 lead.
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the fifth when redshirt junior outfielder Bodie Pullen (Winchester, Va./James Wood) tripled to right center and later scored when redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Fluharty (Burton, W.Va./Morgantown/USC Upstate) reached on an infield error.
Shepherd capped the scoring in the ninth when redshirt junior outfielder Ethan Jones (Oakton, Va./Oakton) walked and later scored on a single off the bat of freshman outfielder Sam Hefner (Harpers Ferry, W.Va./Jefferson).
Pullen had a pair of hits to lead the Rams.
Senior pitcher Allen Miller (Mechanicsville, Md./Chopticon) (9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 6 K, 1 BB) (5-4) earned the complete game shutout victory. Gage Gillott (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 K, 2 BB) (3-3) took the loss.
The Rams return to action on Thursday when they face West Chester for second-round action. First pitch is slated for 4:30 pm.
Notes: Shepherd earned its first PSAC Baseball Tournament win with today's victory ... the Rams improve to 1-1 in PSAC Tournament play.
