SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - - Shepherd University combined to score 19 runs in a doubleheader sweep of UVa-Wise at Fairfax Field Thursday afternoon. The Rams claimed an 8-1 victory in the opener before using a seven-run seventh inning to roll to an 11-4 win in the finale.
Game one saw the Rams' (11-12, 9-1 MEC) offense erupt for four runs over the first two innings. Chase Hoffman doubled home JJ Sarty for the first run of the day in the home half of the first inning before Ron Farley and Tyler Piccolo also knocked in a run to stake Shepherd to a 3-0 lead.
The hosts scored their fourth run in the second inning when Jacob Carney scored on a passed ball.
The Rams put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth inning. Jonathan Sarty belted a two-run homerun while Hoffman and Daniel Heleine hit solo homers.
UVa-Wise (11-17, 5-5 MEC) scored its lone run of the game in the fifth when freshman Jordan Turner doubled home redshirt freshman Josh Haga.
Joe Rindone earned the mound win for Shepherd as the Towson transfer fired six innings of one-run ball. The right-hander struck out five against two walks while scattering three hits as he improved to 3-2 on the season.
Four Rams had multi-hit games as part of a 10-hit attack in the opener. Sarty led the offensive attack by going 3-4 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored.
Turner was the only UVa-Wise player to post multiple hits. The shortstop finished 2-3 with an RBI.
Sophomore David Thomas gave the Cavs their only lead of the day in the top of the first inning of game two when he singled home Turner.
The lead was short lived for Hank Banner's crew as Daniel Heleine hit a two-run homer over the left field fence to give Shepherd a 2-1 lead.
An inning later, Brian McCourt would score from third when teammate Brenton Doyle was caught stealing second to give the Rams a 3-1 lead.
At that point, UVa-Wise starter Joe Catalani and Shepherd starter A.J. Stead would settle into the game as the score would remain unchanged until the top of the sixth inning.
The Cavs would take advantage of an error and a wild pitch to plate a pair of unearned runs to tie the game at 3-3.
The Rams quickly responded as McCourt lined a two-out RBI single into left field allowing Hoffman to score the go-ahead run.
After at 1-2-3 top of the seventh, Shepherd put the game out of reach in the home half of the inning.
The Rams would strike for seven runs on five hits in the put-away frame. Doyle highlighted the inning by reaching twice, including a solo homer.
UVa-Wise would score its final run when freshman Dante Salerno singled in Dawson Cagle in the top of the eighth to provide the winning margin of 11-4.
Stead claimed the mound victory by allowing three runs (one earned) in six innings of work. The left-hander struck out five, walked five and allowed five hits as he improved to 2-3 on the year.
Catalani took the loss despite tossing six innings of four-run ball. The junior struck out two, walked two and allowed eight hits in six innings of work. The UVa-Wise bullpen was tagged for seven runs in just two innings of work.
After a six-game road trip, the Cavs will return home Sunday to face Fairmont State in a doubleheader. Game one is slated to begin at 1 p.m. from Stallard Field.
