Shepherd College Athletics

Megan Hall scattered four hits in Shepherd's 4-1 win over West Liberty in game one.

SHEPHERD HANDS HILLTOPPERS THEIR FIRST WVIAC LOSS IN SPLIT

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV--Shepherd University split a doubleheader in WVIAC softball action with West Liberty at Shepherd on Saturday afternoon. The Rams handed the Hilltoppers their first conference loss in game one with a 4-1 triumph, while West Liberty gained the split with a 4-0 win in the nightcap.

West Liberty took a 1-0 lead in game in the first inning when Carla Krieg and later scored on a single by Shannon Krieg.

Shepherd took advantage of two Hilltopper errors in the third to plate three runs and take a 3-1 lead. Julie Scherpf (Berkeley Springs, WV/Berkeley Springs HS) walked and later score along with JoJo Small (Old Fields, WV/Frankfort HS), who reached base on an error, when Shannon Leighty (Carneys Point, NJ/Penns Grove HS) reached on an infield error. Leighty later scored on a single off the bat of Brooke Small (Herndon, VA/Herndon HS).

The Rams added an insurance run in the sixth when pinch runner Alyssa Rowe (Enhaut, PA/Central Dauphin HS) scored on a single by Julie Scherpf.

Megan Hall (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry HS) scattered four hits and fanned six to even her record to 4-4. Carrie Swinderman took the loss for the Toppers.

Tabi Merceruio tossed a three-hitter as West Liberty earned the split with a 4-0 win in the nightcap. The Martinsburg High School graduate recorded six strikeouts. Karen Burnette (Yorktown, VA/ Tabb HS) suffered the loss for the Rams.

West Liberty scored all four runs in the first with Cory Danison, Calli Ryan, and Ericka Bell all smacking RBI-singles.

Bell went 3-for-3 to lead the Hilltoppers. Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh HS) went 2-for-3 with a double to pace the Rams.

Shepherd moves to 14-18 overall, 7-5 in conference action, while West Liberty is now 32-11, 18-1. The Rams return to action on Sunday when they host West Virginia State for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.

Game One

West Liberty 100 000 0 1 4 3

Shepherd 003 001 X 4 6 3

Hall and Nagy; Swinderman and Collins.

WP: Hall (4-4)

LP: Swinderman

Game Two

West Liberty 400 000 0 4 7 0

Shepherd 000 000 0 0 3 3

Burnette and Nagy; Merceruio and Detrick.

WP: Merceruio

LP: Burnette (3-7)

Mia Zappacosta went 2-for-3 with a double for the Rams in the nightcap.