CARY, N.C. – Sophomore Brittain Shander collected two hits, one run and an RBI to lead the Mansfield University baseball team, but West Virginia State University used a six-run third inning to earn an 11-5 non-conference victory on Sunday afternoon, March 8 at the USA Baseball Training Complex.

The Mounties (4-9 overall) saw eight players notch a base knock, including three multi-hit efforts, totaling 11 hits. Juniors Nate Cotton and Ben Osborne joined Shander with two hits with Cotton adding two runs. Freshman Zach Spray tallied two RBI and freshman Josh Farina and senior Josh Kulina also drove in runs.

The Mounties scored in the top of the second after Cotton got the rally started with a single and was driven in by Spray two batters later on a fielder's choice to give the Mounties a 1-0 lead.

Held scoreless through two innings, the Yellow Jackets (4-10 overall), plated six runs in the third and three in the fourth on 10 hits to take a 9-1 lead.  

The Mounties weren't done, however, scoring a pair of runs in the fifth and plating a run in both the sixth and seventh to trim the deficit to four.

In the fifth, Shander singled to knock in junior Tony Brown and Furina notched an RBI with a sacrifice fly. Spray knocked in Cotton with a single in the sixth and Kulina drove in Shander in the seventh with a sacrifice fly.

However, that concluded the scoring for Mansfield while the Yellow Jackets adding insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to seal the victory.

Junior Jake Manke was handed the loss, allowing three runs in two and 1/3 innings. Junior Jordan Cowen showcased another strong outing out of the bullpen, limiting West Virginia State to one run in two and 2/3 innings while striking out three.

Andrew Stone led the Yellow Jackets' offense with three hits, two triples and three RBI. Ethan Lauchart earned the victory on the mound, tossing seven complete innings with five earned runs and three strike outs.

The Mounties open PSAC competition on Friday, March 13 at 2 p.m. when they host East Stroudsburg at Shaute Field.