SHEPHERD CLINCHES WVIAC NORTHERN DIVISION WITH SPLIT AGAINST DAVIS & ELKINS; RISER TIES SCHOOL WIN MARK

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Shepherd University split WVIAC baseball doubleheader action against Davis & Elkins on Sunday at Fairfax Field to clinch the WVIAC Northern Division title. The Rams pounded out 17 hits in a 12-2 win in game one. The Senators took the nightcap with an 6-3 victory. Shepherd head coach Wayne Riser gained his 360th career win and tied Shepherd Hall of Famer Bob Starkey for the most coaching wins in any sport in Shepherd history.

Leading 1-0 heading intothe second inning, Shepherd broke open game one with five runs on six hits. A two-run single by senior outfielder Joe Cook (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County HS) and RBI-singles by senior outfielder Collin Brown (Durham, NC/Southern Durham HS), junior outfielder John Hawse (Winchester, VA/James Wood HS/Potomac State), and senior shortstop Nicky Brown (Falling Waters, WV/Hedgesville HS/Potomac State).

Shepherd added two runs in the third on RBI-singles from sophomore Dirk Webb (Hedgesville, WV/Hedgesville HS) and Cook to take an 8-1 lead.

The Rams added two more in the fourth on a two-run blast off the bat of freshman third baseman Andrew McCormick (Stephens City, VA/Sherando HS).

The Senators made it a 10-2 game in the fifth on a solo homer by Chris Fisher.

Shepherd completed the scoring with solo homers from senior second baseman Ryan Brady (McSherrystown, PA/Delone Catholic HS/Hagerstown CC) and Cook.

Cook and Webb each had three hits to lead the Rams. Collin Brown, Nicky Brown, Hawse, Brady and redshirt-freshman DH Brett Caplan (Marriottsville, MD/Liberty HS) added two hits apiece.

Ryan Flanigan went 2-for-3 to lead the Senators.

Sophomore reliever Josh Bowers (Williamsport, MD/Williamsport HS) gained the win in his first start of the year to improve to 5-2. Senator starter Eric Lassiter took the loss.

Davis & Elkins took a 4-2 lead in the third inning in the nightcap on two-run homers by Adam Thompson and Sean Bruce.

A two-run homer by Marc Ruscello extended the Senator lead to 6-2 in the fifth

Shepherd scored the game's final run in the seventh when Collin Brown was hit-by-pitch with the bases-loaded. Redshirt-freshman pinch hitter Neil Toothman (Ronceverte, WV/Greenbrier East HS) nearly tied the game in the previous at-bat on a lined shot down the right field line that was barely foul.

Thompson and Bruce each led the Senators in the nightcap with a pair of hits.

Nicky Brown led the Rams with a 2-for-3 effort.

Alan Barnum gained the win for the Senators with Tobi Stoner gaining the final out to pick up the save. Ram starter Brandon Armentrout (Martinsburg, WV/Martinsburg HS) took the loss.

Shepherd moves to 33-14, 16-4 in WVIAC action, while Davis & Elkins is now 24-18, 12-10. The Rams return to action on Friday in first day action of the WVIAC Tournament at 4:00 p.m. at Hunnicutt Field in Princeton.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score