SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Shepherd University pounded out 27 hits on the day en route to a sweep of West Virginia Wesleyan in WVIAC baseball doubleheader action at Fairfax Field on Tuesday. The Rams took a 5-2 win in game one and rallied for a 16-14 triumph in the nightcap.

 

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one when sophomore outfielder Michael Lott (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) led off with a single and later scored when senior first baseman Nathan Minnich (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area Sr.) reached base on an error .

 

West Virginia Wesleyan got on the board in the third on a solo blast from Cory Flickinger.

The Rams added a pair of runs in the third behind RBI-singles from junior designated hitter Kenny Beyer (Rockville, MD/ Montgomery-Germantown) and junior outfielder Jake Cook (Centreville, MD/Queen Anne’s).

 

Mark Darlington added a solo homer in the fourth for Wesleyan to cut the lead to 3-2.

 

The Rams added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. Sophomore outfielder Aaron Scoville (Centreville, VA/Westfield) had a sacrifice fly and sophomore second baseman Brandon Coffey (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) added an RBI-single to highlight the rally.

 

Sophomore pitcher Paul Hvozdovic (Herndon, VA/Herndon) (5.0 IP, 4 Ks, 3 BB, 2 ER) picked up the win to improve to 3-2. Senior reliever Andrew Gallant (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) picked up the save. Aaron Adams (2-2) took the loss for the Bobcats.

Shepherd used a six-run fifth inning in the nightcap to rally past the Bobcats. Senior third baseman Travis Sluger (Germantown, MD/Williamsport/Hagerstown CC) had a three-run homer and Minnich added a two-run single to key the rally.

Sophomore outfielder Ryan Messina (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs and Sluger went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Cook added a 3-for-3 effort for the Rams.

Gene Franks went 3-for-5 to lead Wesleyan.

 

Sophomore pitcher Sam Beatty (Jessup, MD/Hammond) (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 Ks, 2 BB) picked up the win to improve to 1-0. Senior reliever Andrew Gallant (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) worked the seventh to pick up his second save of the day. Chris Stein (0-2) took the loss for the Bobcats.

 

Shepherd moves to 10-7, 3-1 in WVIAC action, while West Virginia Wesleyan drops to 6-10, 2-2. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they travel to Seton Hill for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.