WEST LAWN, Pa. – Winston-Salem State held on for a 6-5 win over Shepherd University in NCAA II Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament action at Owls Field at Ted Palka Park on Friday.  The loss eliminates Shepherd from regional play.

 

Winston-Salem State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Travis Moore led off with a single, stole second, and stole third. He scored on a double by Paco Martin.

 

Shepherd answered back in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore designated hitter Aaron Scoville (Centreville, VA/Westfield) walked and later scored on a double by senior first baseman Nathan Minnich (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro Area Sr.).

 

Winston-Salem State took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the third. Aaron Jones had an RBI-single while Devin McLemore and Brandon Harrison each added RBI-doubles.

 

The Rams extended their lead to 5-1 with a run in the sixth on as Moore singled and later scored on an error.

 

After Winston Salem plated a run in the eighth, Shepherd responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 6-3. Junior second baseman Chad Murphy (North Olmsted, OH/North Olmsted) belted a two-run blast down the right field line.

 

Shepherd staged a rally in the ninth. Sophomore outfielder Michael Lott (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) got things started with a single and Scoville followed with a walk. Minnich delivered an RBI-single to plate Lott. Senior outfielder Nash Hutter (Sunland, CA/Verdugo Hills/Glendale CC) hit an infield single to plate Scoville to make it a one run game. Junior outfielder Jake Cook (Centreville, MD/Queen Anne’s) reached on an infield error to load the bases with two outs,  but reliever Wesley Edwards caught sophomore catcher Ryan Messina (St. James, NY/Smithtown East) looking to gain the save.

 

Minnich and Murphy each went 2-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs. Lott and Hutter added a pair of hits. Scoville scored three runs and Messina added a double.

 

Martin went 4-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs to lead Winston Salem State.

 

Shepherd starter Andrew Gallant (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) (3.0 IP, 3 Ks, 1 BB, 4 ER) took the loss to fall to 6-4.  Sophomore Trevor Appleby (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg) (6.0 IP, 5 Ks, 1 BB, 1 ER) gave a solid performance in relief. Winston-Salem starter Scott Wells (6.2 IP, 1 K, 3 BB) picked up the win to improve to 7-0.

Shepherd completes its season at 30-22, while Winston-Salem State improves to 35-20.