Shepherd College Athletics

SHEPHERD DOWNS BARTON TO REACH .500 MARK

WILSON, NC --Charlie Drummond (Strasburg, VA/Strasburg HS) belted a three-run homer to key a four-run outburst in the third inning and lead Shepherd College to a 4-3 win over Barton College in baseball action at the Barton Athletic Complex on Thursday.

Trailing 1-0 in the third, Tavis Laws (Stephens City, VA/Sherando/Eastern Mennonite) reached base on an infield single with one out. Jason Walck (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro HS) reached base on a walk and Drummond followed with a three-run blast to left field. Steve Kozak (Harpers Ferry, WV/Jefferson HS) singled and later scored on a single to right field by Jon Serrano (Stafford, VA/Brooke Point HS) what proved to be the winning run.

The Bulldogs cut the Ram lead to 4-2 in the sixth when Justin Wilkes reached base on an error, moved to second on a single by Dennis Blackmon, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored when Eric McInerny grounded into a double play. Barton tallied its final run in the seventh when Michael Kopp led off with a single, moved to second on a bunt, reached third on an infield error, and scored on a fielder's choice hit by Kamal Pearsall.

The Rams were led by Laws at the plate with a 3-for-5 outing. Drummond and Serrano added 2-for-4 efforts.

Michael Kopp led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-4 effort, including a solo home run in the second.

Shepherd starter Jimmy Jackson (Millersville, MD/Old Mill HS) struck out four and allowed a pair of walks in six innings to gain his first win of the season. Scott Koscielniak (Severn, MD/Old Mill HS/CCBC-Catonsville) pitched the seventh, Todd Coder (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge HS) worked the eighth, and Drummond nailed down the save in the ninth when he fanned Pearsall with a runner on first to end the game. Bulldog starter Michael Parker suffered the loss.

Shepherd improves to 9-9 on the season, while Barton falls to 16-16. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they travel to Salem International for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.

Shepherd 004 000 000 4 11 3

Barton 010 001 100 3 6 0

Jackson, Koscielniak (7), Coder (8), Drummond (9) and Serrano; Parker, Miller (6), Jones (9) and Kopp.

HR: BC -Kopp SC - Drummond.

WP: Jackson (1-2)

LP: Parker (0-3)

SV: Drummond (2)