SHEPHERD RALLIES PAST SHIPPENSBURG

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Senior outfielder Collin Brown (Durham, NC/Southern Durham HS) smashed a double to left centerfield to score senior infielder Ryan Brady (McSherrystown, PA/Delone Catholic HS/ Hagerstown CC) with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Shepherd University to a 6-5 win over Shippensburg University in baseball action at Fairfax Field on Tuesday. The Shepherd win over Shippensburg was the first since 1999 and snapped a six-game losing skid against the Red Raiders.

Shippensburg took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Justin Garber and Tyler Redick both walked and moved up on a double steal. Garber scored on a wild pitch and Redick came home on an error by the Ram catcher.

Shepherd cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first when sophomore Dirk Webb (Hedgesville, WV/Hedgesville HS) reached base on a walk and later scored on single by senior shortstop Nicky Brown (Falling Waters, WV/Hedgesville HS/Potomac State).

The Red Raiders increased their lead to 3-1 with a run in the second. Tim Freshour singled and scored on a double by Garber.

Shippensburg extended its lead to 4-1 in the eighth when Ryan Bucher singled and later scored on a double by Eric Dezell.

Shepherd rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the eighth. Singles by Ryan Brady, Collin Brown and senior outfielder Joe Cook (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County HS) loaded the bases and Dirk Webb lofted a sacrifice fly to plate Brady and advance Brown to third. Junior first baseman John Hawse (Winchester, VA/James Wood HS/ Potomac State) belted a two-run double to plate Brown and Cook.

Shippensburg took a 5-4 lead in the ninth when Garber led off the inning with a double and later scored on a single by Bucher.

Freshman third baseman Andrew McCormick (Stephens City, VA/Sherando HS) led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by senior catcher David Toth (Lexington, KY/Lexington Christian Academy/Potomac State). After pinch-hitter Neil Toothman (Ronceverte, WV/Greenbrier East HS) flied out to left, Brady delivered a two-out, two-strike single to center to score the equalizer and set the stage for Brown's heroics.

Hawse went 3-for-3 to pace the Rams. Collin Brown, Webb and Brady each added a pair of hits.

Garber was 3-for-4 with three doubles to lead the Red Raiders.

Webb picked up the win for the Rams to improve to 3-0 on the year. Stephen Slatcoff (2-3) took the loss for the Red Raiders.

Shepherd improved to 31-12, while Shippensburg dropped to 27-20. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Davis & Elkins for a 1:00 p.m. conference doubleheader.

Box Score