Box Score

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield Edges Shepherd in 3-1 Decision

Troutville, VA – In their second game of the West Virginia Wesleyan College Softball Challenge, Mansfield took on Shepherd University from West Virginia. The Mountaineers were able to edge the Lady Rams 3-1 in a tough contest.

Mansfield, the visiting team, got things started early in the first inning. Stephanie Simmeth gave the Mounties a lead-off single to left field. Courtney Bauder moved Simmeth to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ashley Inman hit Simmeth home on a RBI double to put Mansfield up 1-0.

Emily Crandell started on the mound for Mansfield for the second time this season. The senior shut out Shepherd for first three innings. In the third inning, Kayla Allen made two difficult catches in left field, including a foul ball against the fence, to assist Crandell defensively.

In the fourth inning, Kaitlyn Harris had a hit to right center. The senior first baseman was moved around the bases to third by two sacrifice bunts by Amanda Goodwin and Laura Lawson. Harris gave the Mounties another run off of a Crandell RBI single up the middle to put Mansfield up 2-0.

Shepherd came knocking in the bottom of the fourth. Shannon Lyons, who reached base on a pair of errors, was hit home by Alexandra Witt on a RBI double.

Mansfield came back with a response in the fifth inning. Bauder reached first base on a single to left field. Inman hit a RBI single to deep left to bring Bauder home and put Mansfield up 3-1.

Crandell was relieved by Inman in the fifth inning. The senior gave up only three hits with five strikeouts.

The sixth inning proved to be relatively quiet for both teams, but the game had a great deal of drama still remaining. The story for Mansfield in the seventh inning was defense. Bauder had a heads up play on a jumping line drive catch. Following the junior's impressive play, Shepherd's Shanan Plunkett was able to get on base with a fielding error. Bauder then responded with another line drive put away to bring Mansfield within one out of victory. However, a determined Shepherd team was able to put two more runners on to load the bases. Catcher Alanna Jenkins was able to keep the Lady Rams from stealing home on a hustle play after a wild pitch. Senior Simmeth would be the one to end the inning and the game with an over the shoulder catch in center field.

Crandell garnered her first win of the season to bring her record to 1-1. Inman recorded her first save of the year. Inman had the best performance at the plate for the Mounties by going 3-2 with two RBI's.

Mansfield takes on Winston-Salem State at 3:00 p.m. and Concord University at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow Mar. 14.