FREDERICK, Md. - - Shepherd combined to score 23 runs in a doubleheader Mountain East Conference sweep of UVa-Wise at Frederick Community College Sunday.  The Rams scored in all six innings they stepped to the plate in an 18-3 win in the opener before using a three-run fifth inning to capture a 5-2 win in the finale.

Shepherd (8-2, 8-2) has now won eight of its first ten games to open the season, Sunday's games were the first home games for the Rams who opened with eight MEC road games.

Playing its fifth and sixth consecutive road games to open the year, UVa-Wise (0-6, 0-2) got off to a good start in the top of the first inning of game one.

Brett Yates singled to lead off the game and scored on a two-out RBI hit by Jordan Olinger.  The Cavaliers added a second run when Tye Marshall scampered home on a passed ball.

The lead was short lived for coach Hank Banner's club as five consecutive Rams would reach base with one out in the home half of the first.  Shepherd lined a pair of doubles in what turned out to be a four-run frame.

Back-to-back walks and an error lighted the fuse for the Rams' offense in the second  inning as coach Matt McCarty's squad plated four more runs in taking an 8-2 lead. 

By the time the preseason conference favorites had finished their offensive outburst the team had pushed 18 runs across the plate on 12 hits.

Two Rams had multiple hits, multiple RBI , and scored multiple runs in the day's first game as Matt Wilson and  Spencer Wolfe each had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.  Teammate Zane Bard added two hits and scored a trio of runs, Daniel Heleine added a game-high three RBI in the win.

On the mound, Sam Crater fanned 10 and allowed just one earned run over six innings of work. With the win the right hander improved to 3-0 on the season.

Yates had two of UVa-Wise's four hits while fellow freshman Garrett Wente collected a base hit in the school's conference opener.

Game two saw Shepherd starter Jamie Driver strike out four batters in the first three innings as he tallied eight punch outs in the victory.

Freshman starter Wesley Thornton matched Driver for the first two frames to keep the game scoreless going to the bottom of the third inning.

Following a fly out and a strike out, Shepherd would get on the board with two away in the frame.  Jacob Carney walked, stole second, and scored on a double by Jonathan Sarty.  Thornton would get out of the jam by getting Wilson on a pop up to first base.

Senior Bill Steven continued his impressive start to the season by tying the game with a solo homer to lead off the fourth inning. 

The Rams regained the lead in the home half of the inning when Austin Guy walked with the bases loaded.  Shepherd would again miss an opportunity to add to its lead as reliever Ben Coffman would fan consecutive hitters to leave the bases loaded.

Trailing by a run, the Cavs tied the game in the top of the fifth inning.  Matthew Wright doubled to start the frame and later scored on a Rams' error.

Shepherd would post the first multi-run inning of the game in the bottom half of the inning as the Rams would take advantage of a walk and a hit by pitch to lead to the first run of the frame.  A two-run homerun by Tre Porter later in the inning gave the Rams a three-run lead.

Steven would lead off the top of the sixth inning with a base hit and UVa-Wise would eventually get the bases loaded with nobody out.  The Cavaliers would be unable to capitalize on the opportunity however, as Shepherd would get a double play and a strikeout to end the threat.

Rams' closer Brian Martin would come out of the bullpen and strike out the side in the seventh inning to complete the sweep.

Driver allowed six hits and an earned run over six innings of work to pick up his third win against no defeats.  The save was the second of the year for Martin.

UVa-Wise pitching allowed just four hits in the game but seven walks proved to be costly. 

Steven raised his batting average to .478 with his two-hit game.  The Fonthill, Ontario native now has two or more hits in four of the season's first six games.

The same two teams will be back at it tomorrow when the series returns to Shepherd University for a doubleheader.  First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.