The Shepherd baseball team suffered a big loss in the first game of their doubleheader but responded with a strong victory to end today with a win.
In game one, the Rams lost by a devastating 11-0 score. Shippensburg gained the lead early and did not relent. They scored six runs in the first three innings before scoring an additional five runs in the fourth inning.
Sophomore starter Ryan Simpson earned the tough loss for the Rams.
The Rams shook off the first game, however, and responded with an impressive 15-6 win. Shepherd game out ready to go in the second game, taking a 4 run lead in the first inning. Junior designated hitter Daniel Heleine, freshman outfielder Brenton Doyle, and sophomore shortstop Brian McCourt each had RBIs in the inning.
Shippensburg kept the game from slipping away with a two run home run from Jake Kennedy.
Shepherd added to their lead in the third inning with six additional runs. Heleine, senior first baseman Jacob Carney, and junior third baseman Chase Hoffman all
had an RBI during the successful inning. Shippensburg added a pair of runs in the inning, but could not stop the Shepherd advance.
The Rams continued with another RBI from McCourt in the forth before Heleine and second baseman Tyler Piccolo batted in three more runs in the sixth.
Shippensburg again responded with a pair of runs, but did not come close to evening the scoreboard.
Senior outfielder JJ Sarty scored yet another run for the Rams in the seventh.
Junior reliever Dan Galati earned the win for the Rams.
Defense was a struggle for Shepherd in both games, allowing 20 runs on 25 hits for the day. Offense was nonexistent in the first game, scoring no runs on nine hits, but rebounded in the second with 15 runs on only 18 hits.
Shepherd will travel to Urbana University in Ohio for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.