WEST LIBERTY, WV -- Shepherd College split with West Liberty in WVIAC baseball action at West Liberty on Thursday. The Hilltoppers earned a 10-9 victory in game one, while the Rams used a 19-hit attack to gain a 17-12 win in the nightcap.
Justin Edwards smacked a two-run homer to key a four-run sixth inning and clinch the win for the Hilltoppers in game one.
Jason Rhea (Berkeley Springs (Pensacola JC)/Abingdon, VA) went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, and a single to lead the Rams. Jason Walck (Waynesboro/Waynesboro, PA), Mike Spry (Kent County/Chestertown, MD), and Josh Delawder (Paw Paw (Potomac State)/Paw Paw, WV) added two hits each.
Rams starter Brian Renner (Handley (Potomac State)/Winchester, VA) suffered his first loss of the year, while Jason Taylor picked up the win for West Liberty.
Nick Gozzard (Canon-McMillan (Allegany College of Maryland)/Eighty-Four, PA) and Spry had three hits each to power the Rams in game two. Charlie Drummond (Strasburg/Strasburg, VA), Tavis Laws (Sherando (Eastern Mennonite)/Stephens City, VA), Brad McCullough (Susquehannock/New Freedom, PA), Walck, and Delawder all added had a pair of hits. Spry, Drummond, and Gozzard each belted home runs. Spry finished the afternoon with a 5-for-5 outing with a homer, two doubles, two singles, and four RBI. Drummond added a 2-for-6 effort with seven RBI.
Shepherd reliever Jimmy Jackson (Old Mill/Millersville, MD) picked up his first win of the year. Brandon Moore took the loss for West Liberty.
Chris Sando smacked a three-run homer to pace the Hilltoppers in the nightcap.
Shepherd moves to 11-13, 5-3 in WVIAC action, while West Liberty is now 13-17, 5-9. The Rams return home to host Concord on Saturday. Doubleheader action will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Fairfax Field.
Game One
Shepherd 140 110 2 9 11 4
West Liberty 023 104 X 10 12 0
Taylor and Gaskins; Renner and Rhea.
HR: SC - Rhea (5th, solo); WL - Edwards (6th, one on).
WP: Taylor
LP: Renner (5-1)
Game Two
Shepherd 173 030 3 17 19 1
West Liberty 104 020 3 12 13 0
Moore, Steenstra (2), McArdle (3), Umbright (5) and Gaskins; Fitzwater, Jackson (4), Bowie (6), Drummond (7) and Gozzard.
HR: SC - Drummond (2nd, three on), Gozzard (5th, solo), Spry (7th, solo); WL - Sando (7th, two on).
WP: Jackson (1-2)
LP: Moore
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