SHEPHERD SOFTBALL DROPS TWO AT SNOWBIRD TOURNAMENT

MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- Shepherd University dropped a pair of games in final day action at the Snowbird Softball Tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Thursday. Mansfield handed Shepherd a 6-3 setback in eight innings and Utica edged the Rams, 4-3, in the second game.

Mansfield scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 6-3 victory.

Shana Markwis went 4-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Mountaineers. Kris Kelly added a 3-for-5 outing with two RBIs, while Stacy Dean was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple.

Trailing 2-0, Shepherd tied the game in the top of the fifth when sophomore pitcher Stephanie Sims (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg HS) smacked a two-run single to plate senior outfielder Jenn Canby (Martinsburg, WV/Martinsburg HS) and senior shortstop Megan Zahnow (Berkeley Springs, WV/Berkeley Springs HS).

The Rams took a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth when junior outfielder Julie Scherpf (Berkeley Springs, WV/Berkeley Springs HS) singled home sophomore outfielder Jamie Griffin (Martinsburg, WV/Martinsburg HS).

Mansfield reliever Whitney Brown gained the win, while Sims took the loss for the Rams.

The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the third inning against Utica when Canby reached base on an error and scored on an RBI-single from junior pitcher Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh HS).

Utica rallied with four runs in the bottom of the third. A bases-loaded single by Amanda Butler coupled with an outfield error allowed three runs to score. Rinae Olsen followed with an RBI-single to plate Butler.

Shepherd added a pair of runs in the fifth on a two-run single from Canby.

Kallie Mathis earned the win for Utica, while Zappacosta suffered the loss.

Shepherd (4-9) returns to action on Friday when it hosts Bridgewater College for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader.

Shepherd 000 020 01 3 7 1

Mansfield 002 000 04 6 12 1

Probst, Brown (5) and Walker; Sims and Orkoskey.

HR: none

WP: Brown

LP: Sims (0-3)

Shepherd 001 200 0 3 7 1

Utica 004 000 X 4 8 2

Zappacosta and Caywood; Mathis and Savage.

HR: none

WP: Mathis

LP: Zappacosta (2-3)