SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V. - The Mansfield University baseball will travel to Shepherdstown, W.V. for a four-game Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East series with Shepherd University on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 at Fairfax Field.
Both games will start at noon with game two to follow. Stay tuned to gomounties.com and the official Mansfield Athletics social media accounts (@MUMounties) for updates on the weekend.
Saturday's meeting marks the first time that these two teams will face in PSAC play. The clubs have met 15 other times in non-conference action, dating back to 1997.
CLOSING TIME
The Mountaineers have their most wins since 2017 (11) and their most conference wins since 2010, currently at ten. With four games left in the regular season, Mansfield will try to match and surpass their conference win total from 2010, the last time the Mounties made an NCAA Regional.
Senior
Tyler Melko is looking to become the first Mountie to lead the conference in home runs since 2008. Currently sitting in a three way tie at 11, Melko would be the first Mountaineer to take home the crown since Abram Yeakel who hit 12 in 2008.
Also in the home run race, junior
Assaf Lowengart has nine homers to go with 21 RBIs, 19 runs, and five doubles. Standout freshman
Zachary Shertzer leads the team in batting average at .345 (30-for-87) into the final weekend, along with 22 RBIs, 16 runs, a team-leading nine doubles, and three home runs.
On the pitching side, senior
Hunter DePrimo will take the mound for his last weekend after an impressive senior season and career. With a 5-3 record and a 4.37 ERA to back it up, DePrimo is second in the conference in strikeouts at 68 and complete games at five. The senior hurler is just nine strikeouts from cracking the program's career program record book.
SCOUTING OPPONENTS
Team: Shepherd Rams
Overall Record: 19-12-1
PSAC East Record: 15-10-1
All-Time Record vs. MU: 6-9, dating back to 1997
Postseason Watch: Shepherd is currently in third place in the PSAC East. With only four conference games left, they are just two games out of second place, but also only hold a two-game lead over East Stroudburg, who currently sits on the outside looking in.
Head Coach: Matt McCarty (9th season)
Players to Watch: Caleb Walls is hitting .418 (46-for-110) with 40 runs, 35 RBIs, 20 doubles, six home runs, and three triples. Walls leads the conference in runs and doubles, while sitting at second in hits and fifth in RBI. Steve Bowley leads the pitching staff with a 5-3 record and a 5.09 ERA. In 40.2 innings pitched, Bowley has given up 23 earned runs while striking out 39.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Mounties will look to end a two-game losing streak against the Rams on Friday. The Mounties last win came in 2006, with a win on the road, 5-2. This weekend will start the first conference series matchup between the two teams.
The Mounties have faced the Rams 15 times dating back to 1997.
On this date (5/7/2013): Joe Candelmo and
Brandon Miller Named to 2
nd team All-PSAC East Honors
Mansfield's
Joe Candelmo and
Brandon Miller were named to All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East division 2
nd team honors
Miller started all 50 games at shortstop in his first season with the Mountaineers where he hit for a .300 average. The junior collected 48 hits in 160 at bats while ranking third in the PSAC in walks with 25. Miller was second on the team in runs scored with 34 and on base percentage at .407.
A solid defender, Miller allowed just eight errors in 198 attempts for a .960 fielding percentage. His 137 assists were the second most in the conference this season.
As the ace of the Mountie's pitching staff, Candelmo finished the 2013 season with a 4-4 record and a 3.97 ERA. The lefty tied for ninth in the PSAC for complete games with five and went at least 5.2 innings in each of his 10 appearances.
SPECTATOR POLICY
Shepherd University will not be allowing the general public to attend spring sports competitions due to COVID-19 concerns. Shepherd will allow a small home pass list for relatives of Shepherd players and coaches.
Coverage links for live video and live stats are available at the links above and under each program's page at gomounties.com.
WRAPPING UP THE SEASON
The Mounties wrap up the regular season with this series against Shepherd University.
