Shepherd College Athletics

WEST LIBERTY EDGES RAMS IN EXTRA INNINGS

VIENNA, WV--West Liberty downed Shepherd University, 2-1, in nine innings to eliminate the Rams in second day action of the WVIAC Softball Tournament in Vienna.

Calli Ryan's ground ball to first base scored Tiffany Martin with the game-winning run as West Liberty eliminated Shepherd in the ninth. The Hilltoppers loaded the bases with three consecutive singles.

West Liberty held a 1-0 lead for much of the contest before Shepherd's Mia Zappacosta (Owings Mills, MD/McDonogh HS) knotted the game with a sixth inning solo home run. Zappacosta led the Shepherd attack with a 2-for-4 effort.

Brooke Small (Herndon, VA/Herndon HS), Shannon Leighty (Carneys Point, NJ/Penns Grove HS), and Julie Scherpf (Berkeley Springs, WV/Berkeley Springs HS) each added singles for Shepherd.

Jess Detrick and Jenna Sims each notched two hits for the Toppers.

West Liberty reliever Carrie Swinderman tossed hitless ball over the final 2 2/3 innings to gain the win. Martinsburg High graduate Tabi Merceruio had eight strikeouts and two walks as the starter.

Megan Hall (Keysville, VA/Randolph-Henry HS) started for the Rams, while reliever Karen Burnette (Yorktown, VA/Tabb HS) suffered the loss.

Shepherd completes a very successful season with a 24-22 overall mark. West Liberty advanced to face Concord.

Shepherd 000 001 000 1 5 1

West Liberty 000 100 001 2 5 0

Merceruio, Swinderman (8) and Detrick; Hall, Burnette (6) and Nagy.

WP: Swinderman (19-6)

LP: Burnette (5-9)