Shepherd University Athletics

Karen Burnette in action in game one.

WEST LIBERTY SWEEPS SHEPHERD SOFTBALL

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- West Liberty swept Shepherd University in WVIAC softball at Shepherd on Saturday. The Hilltoppers took a 3-0 decision in game one and earned the sweep with a 2-2 win in the nightcap.

West Liberty took advantage of three Rams errors in the third inning to plate three runs en route to the win in game one. Tiffany Martin, Mariah Hulsey, and Dani Mohney all scored with the aid of the Ram miscues.

Junior third baseman Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh School) went 2-for-3 to lead the Rams.

Former Martinsburg High School standout Tabi Merceruio gained the win, while senior pitcher Karen Burnette (Yorktown, VA/Tabb HS) took the loss.

The Hilltoppers got an RBI-single from Hulsey and a sacrifice fly from Mohney in the fifth inning of the nightcap to take a 2-0 lead.

Shepherd rallied in the seventh when Zappacosta doubled and later scored on a single by sophomore outfielder April Przygocki (Frederick, MD/Frederick HS) to cut the lead to 2-1. West Liberty reliever Vannessa Esenberg fanned freshman outfielder Rae Johnson (Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge HS) with two on and two out to seal the win.

Jessie Swinderman gained the win, while Zappacosta took the loss.

Cindy Carmichael went 2-for-3 to pace West Liberty. Zappacosta added a 2-for-3 effort for the Rams.

Shepherd falls to 23-25, 12-10 in WVIAC play, while West Libertpy improves to 30-29, 19-7. The Rams return to action next Thursday at the WVIAC Tournament in Vienna, WV.

April Przygocki in action in game one.

Mia Zappacosta in action in game one.

Rebekah Walsh in action in game one.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score