Shepherd University Rams pitcher Paul Hvozdovic notched his 25th career win with the Rams, breaking the school’s previous record set by Ty Hart, a member of the Shepherd Hall of Fame.
Hvozdovic threw seven innings of shutout baseball while only allowing four hits and five strikeouts in the 4–0 win over the University of Charleston Golden Eagles. This was his second consecutive shutout and has now gone a cool 13 innings without allowing a run.
It was Spencer Wolfe’s two-run home run in the sixth inning that gave the Rams the lead. The Rams did not look back. Wolfe added another run in the seventh inning.
On the flip side of the double header, the Rams suffered a heart-breaking 1–0 loss. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Golden Eagles’ center fielder Robbie Collin smacked a double that would plate the game-winning run. An excellent effort by Ryan Pansch, going 5 2/3 innings allowing five hits, two walks and two strikeouts. Rams third baseman Bryce Shemer recorded two of the Rams’ four hits in the game.
The Rams also split a doubleheader earlier in the week against the University of Virginia at Wise in what turned out to be a hitting frenzy. The combined scores in those two games would equal out to 19–14, while it was more pitcher-oriented in the series at the University of Charleston with a combined score of 4–1. The Rams dropped the first game 8–5 before going back on the winning side, winning game two by a commanding final score of 14–6.
Outfielder Michael Lott had a day to remember. In the first game, he hit his first home run of the year, going two for four with two runs and one run batted in. His second game was even better. Lott went three for five in game two, recording two doubles, five runs batted in and one run scored. He also added a stolen base.
Ryan Messina had a big performance in the second game as well, crushing his first home run of the year, a three-run shot that cleared the left field fence. He would score later on in the game after smacking a double.
Sam Crater recorded his second win of the year in that game. Crater pitched four innings and allowed three runs, six hits and struck out three batters. The game only lasted five innings.
Other notable performances in the series came from second baseman Jacob Carney who did not record a single out, going four-for-four, as well as scoring three times. Shortstop T.J. Weisenburg also recorded two hits in the series, driving in two runs and scoring twice.
Up next on the schedule, the Rams have another doubleheader against the Golden Eagles before they return home for a series against the Mountain Lions of Concord, carrying a 9–3 record. The Rams will look to improve on their current record which is currently 6–5.