SHEPHERD SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH WHEELING JESUIT IN CONFERENCE OPENER

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Shepherd University earned a 3-1 win in the nightcap to gain a split with Wheeling Jesuit University in WVIAC softball action at Shepherd on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals took the opener with a 9-0 win in five innings.

Shepherd took a 1-0 lead in the nightcap in the bottom of the first inning when senior outfielder Jenn Canby (Martinsburg, WV/Martinsburg HS) led off with a double and later scored on an infield error.

Wheeling Jesuit tied the game in the fourth when Shawna Clark singled home Jenna Clapham.

Shepherd took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Jamie Griffin (Martinsburg, WV/Martinsburg HS) singled home sophomore catcher Stephanie Sims (Mt. Airy, MD/Glenelg HS) and later scored on a double off the bat of senior first baseman Brooke Small (Herndon, VA/Herndon HS).

Junior Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh HS) went the distance for the Rams to improve to 3-3. She fanned seven and walked only two. Shawna Clark (6 Ks, 1 BB), who tossed a one-hitter in game one, suffered the loss .

Canby and Small each went 2-for-3 to lead the Rams, while Clark was 2-for-3 for the Cardinals.

Clark fanned seven and flirted with a no-hit bid in game one until Griffin smacked a one-out single up the middle in the fifth inning. Ram starter Stephanie Sims took the loss.

Clark went 3-for-4 with four RBIs to help her cause. She belted with a two-run homer in the third. Jenna Clapham was 2-for-3 and hit a three-run blast in the fourth.

Shepherd (7-10, 1-1 WVIAC) returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Davis & Elkins for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score