When we last left the Shepherd University baseball team, they had finally broken their skid and won two of their last three outings. It had been a rough start to the season for the team, but it appeared that the team had begun to right the ship. At that point, the team had improved from starting the season 0-5 to being 2-6.
After splitting a home series with Millersville March 2nd, the Rams headed out to Millersville for another twin billing. Unfortunately, the Rams would leave empty handed. In the first game, Shepherd started the first on the right foot, with Michael Lott scoring from third base after Chad Murphy singled up the middle. However, Millersville would respond in the bottom half with six runs to break the game open. Darius Jones would score for Shepherd in the top half of the second, but Millersville would respond with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Millersville would go on to win the first contest by a score of 13-5.
Millersville would rally to win the nightcap. Queen Anne’s County High School alumnus Jake Cook scored a run for the Rams in the top half of the first inning after Ryan Messina singled. Unfortunately for the Rams, Millersville would score three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the second inning. In the bottom of the third inning, Millersville would add two insurance runs, would prove to be the difference. In the top of the sixth, Darius Jones and Tucker Shakely both scored for the Rams after T.J. Weisenburg singled. That would be all the offense the Rams could muster, falling to Millersville 5-3.
No doubt a rough four games against Millersville, but since then, the Rams have been rolling. In their first game of a three-game series with Lock Haven, the Rams offense was rolling. Shepherd amassed sixteen base hits on the day. Right Fielder Jake Cook paced the Rams on the day, going 4-6 at the plate and knocking in five runs. 1st Baseman Tyler Thomas added four runs batted in and Paul Hvozdovic picked up the win for the Rams. Shepherd defeated Lock Haven 21-4.
The Rams would drop the night game against the Bald Eagles. 3rd Baseman Bryan DiRosario scored the only run for Shepherd, while Center Fielder Michael Lott picked up the run batted in. Josh McCauley took the loss for the Rams, despite giving up no earned runs. A T.J. Weisenburg error allowed two unearned runs to be scored in the top of the third inning.
Since that game, the Rams have not lost. In their away game with Lock Haven, Designated Hitter Chad Murphy would go 3-4 with two runs batted in while Right Fielder Kyle Porter went 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Davis Hall would pick up the win for the Rams, allowing four earned runs over six innings pitched. The Rams picked up the win by a score of 9-4.
The Rams returned to the friendly confines of Fairfax Field to take on fellow WVIAC member Davis & Elkins in a doubleheader. 1st Baseman Jake Cook went 2-4 on the day with two runs batted in and also added a run scored. Catcher Chad Murphy went 2-3, scored a run and added an RBI. Third Baseman Mark McCormick went 2-3 and scored two runs. Paul Hvozdovic pitched five innings for the Rams, giving up one earned run and picking up the win. The Rams won by a final score of 8-2.
In their most recent battle on the diamond, the Rams defeated Davis & Elkins 5-3. Center Fielder Michael Lott went 3-4 with an RBI and run scored, Catcher Chad Murphy went 2-4 with a run scored and Second Baseman Brandon Coffey scored two runs despite not picking up a base hit. Coffey did reach first base by base on balls. Josh McCauley picked up the win for Shepherd. He tossed five innings, picking up seven strikeouts while only allowing one earned run.
Shepherd has improved to 6-9, pretty solid considering the team began 0-5. They play Wheeling Jesuit in Toronto, Ohio on St. Patrick’s Day.