PHILIPPI, W.Va. – Senior first baseman Nathan Minnich (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area Sr.) hit a pair of home runs and sophomore pitcher Paul Hvozdovic (Herndon, VA/Herndon) tossed a three-hitter to lead Shepherd University to a 7-1 win over Alderson-Broaddus in game one in WVIAC doubleheader baseball action at Alderson-Broaddus on Saturday. The Battlers rallied for a 10-9 win in the nightcap.

 

Alderson-Broaddus took a 1-0 lead in the first inning in game one when Sean Collette led off with a double and later scored on a ground out by Mitch Roy.

 

Shepherd tied the game at 1-1 in the third when sophomore catcher Ryan Messina (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) led off with a solo blast.

 

The Rams added three runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 advantage on a solo homer by Minnich and a two-run blast by senior designated hitter Nash Hutter (Sunland, CA/Verdugo Hills/Glendale CC).

 

Shepherd added a pair of runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Hutter and tacked on a run in the seventh on a Minnich blast.

 

Hvozdovic picked up the win to improve to 9-2. Kyle Oney took the loss for the Battlers.

Shepherd took a 6-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap. A two-run single by sophomore second baseman Brandon Coffey (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) highlighted the scoring outburst.

 

The Rams added a pair of runs in the fourth behind an RBI-single by Hutter and sacrifice-fly by Coffey.

 

Trailing 8-1, Alderson-Broaddus plated six runs with a grand slam by Jeff Conley keying the rally.

 

Shepherd added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI-double by senior shortstop Travis Sluger (Germantown, MD/Williamsport/Hagerstown CC), but Alderson-Broaddus got a three-run homer from Brandon Quay in the bottom of the inning to get the split.

 

Senior reliever Justin Byrd (Mamora, NJ/Atlantic Cape CC) took the loss for the Rams, while Battler reliever Bobby Williams gained the win.

Shepherd moves to 24-13, 17-6 in WVIAC play, while Alderson-Broaddus is now 18-19, 14-7. The two teams return to action on Sunday for a single game at 1 p.m.