PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Mansfield University baseball team hit three home runs in game one and benefited from 13 strikeouts from senior Colby Shimmell in game two, but fell 8-6 and 3-1 to Jefferson University in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon, March 6.

Brittain Shander waited 363 days between the last time he stepped into the box and did not disappoint as he led off the game and the season with a solo shot to give the Mounties (0-2 overall) an early 1-0 lead.

Senior Hunter DePrimo held the Rams (2-0 overall) scoreless until the bottom half of the third when Jefferson erupted for five runs to take their first lead of the afternoon, 5-1.

The Rams tacked on an insurance run in the fourth, but the Mounties used the first two home runs of junior transfer Assaf Lowengart's career in the fifth and the seventh to cut the Rams lead to three. Following the big fly by Lowengart, the Mounties fought to get the tying run to the plate after a junior Ben Osborne single and a walk by junior Nate Cotton.

Freshman Dylan Mercedes sent a deep fly ball to right field, but the Rams outfielder secured the catch to end the game.

Lowengart impressed in his first game as a Mountie, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two home runs and a double. Shander also homered and scored twice, Osborne notched two hits and a walk.

Efrain Santiago and Ryan Sawyer homered to lead Jefferson's offense.

DePrimo struck out six in four innings and was handed the loss. Jefferson's Patrick Hohlfield allowed three earned runs in five earnings to earn the victory.

Game two was a completely different story as Mountie starter Shimmel (0-1) and Rams' starter Jem Sisco combined for 25 strikeouts in a combined 12 innings of work.

Jefferson again scored their first run in the bottom of the third off a successful safety squeeze.

Sophomore Zach Spray led off the top of the fifth with a hit by pitch and later scored on a Shander RBI sacrifice fly to right to tie the game at one.

However, the Rams answered with two solo home runs in the bottom half to retake the lead, 3-1.

The Rams added another run in the sixth and the Mountaineers could not answer.

Sophomore Josh Farina and senior Tyler Melko had the only two hits for Mansfield.

Shimmell racked up 13 strikeouts in his Mountaineer debut, allowing three earned runs in six innings. Sisco struck out 12, while allowing just one run in six complete innings.

Gonzalez and Rees homered to lead the Rams in game two.

The Mounties are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a repeat doubleheader with Jefferson.