Box Score WISE, Va. –  Shepherd University (39-20) handed host UVa-Wise (35-18) a 5-1 setback in NCAA Division II Softball Atlantic 1 Regional action at UVa-Wise on Thursday.

The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as senior outfielder/pitcher Paige Buckworth (Elkton, Md./North East) reached on an infield single and junior outfielder Jessica Robinson (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie) followed with a two-run blast.

The Cavaliers cut the lead to 2-1 on a solo homer by Olivia Cleary in the bottom of the second.

Shepherd added three runs in the third. Sophomore first baseman Connor Gilligan Medford, N.J. Shawnee) led off with a single and later scored when Buckworth reached on an error. Sophomore catcher Rachel Taylor (Marshall, Va./Fauquier) reached on a hit-by-pitch. Buckworth and freshman Bailee Jackson (Union, W.Va./James Monroe), who pinch-ran for Taylor, both scored when sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Konopka (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) reached on a dropped fly ball.

The Cavaliers threatened in the bottom of the sixth as they loaded the bases with just one out. Senior pitcher Tara Hanson (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) got the next two batters to pop out to get out of the jam.

Junior shortstop Sarah North (Belcamp, Md./Harford Technical) went 2-for-3  to lead the Rams.

Hanson (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB) (21-5) earned the win for the Rams. Taylor Brandts (2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) (22-7) took the loss for the Cavaliers.

The Rams return to action on Friday when they face the winner of tonight's West Chester-Chowan game on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Notes:The 39 wins tie the single season wins mark for any sport at Shepherd that shared by the 1997, 2014, 2015, and 2016 baseball teams ... Tara Hanson tied a pair of season records for the Rams with 33 appearances (Kaitlin Munda - 2016) and 29 games started (Jen Unger - 1996).

Postgame Press Conference Video