SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.V. – The Mansfield University baseball team dropped a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division games on the road at Shepherd University on Friday afternoon, March 11. The Mounties fell 3-1 in the opener before dropping the nightcap, 18-6.
 
The Mounties fall to 6-8 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC East, while the Rams improve to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in conference.
 
After a pitcher's duel through three innings, Shepherd broke the tie open with a solo shot to lead 1-0 after four complete.
 
Shepherd extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth, but senior Assaf Lowengart drove in junior Brittain Shander with a single to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame.
 
Shepherd took advantage of a Mountaineer mishap in the top of the seventh to add an insurance run, heading into the Mountaineers final three outs.
 
Senior Samuel Freedman led off the seventh with a double and sophomore Marcus Nales walked, putting the tying runs on base, but the Rams got out of the jam to seal the victory.
 
Despite landing the loss, senior Hunter DePrimo (1-2) was dominant on the mound, tossing six-complete innings and striking out a season-high 12 hitters, while limiting the Rams to two runs.
 
Five different Mountaineers picked up hits, while Lowengart drove in the lone Mountaineer run. Senior Ben Osborne finished 2-for-3, while Shander and Freedman notched doubles.
 
For the Rams, Nick Trabacchi earned the win after allowing just one run in six innings, while striking out eight. Ryan Haddaway and Ross Mulhall drove in runs for SU.
 
In game two, Shepherd again took to the scoreboard first, pushing across a run in the top of the first inning.
 
Mansfield struck back in the bottom half when Lowengart hit a solo home run to tie the game at one.
 
However, Shepherd put up their first crooked number with a three spot in the top of the third to lead 4-1.
 
Shepherd extended their lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth, but Mansfield responded with their best inning of the afternoon, belting out three hits to score four runs and cut the lead back to 6-5. Freedman started the rally with his second double of the day which was followed by a single by senior Brady Mengel. Sophomore Shay Gustafson then capitalized with a three-run blast to center field, the first of his career, to trim the lead to 6-4. Shander drew a two-out walk and later came around to score off the bat of Osborne to cut the deficit to one heading into the fifth.
 
Freshman Austin Lewis took over in relief and pitched a scoreless top of the fifth after stranding a leadoff double with back-to-back Ks to end the inning.
 
The Mounties first two batters went down in the bottom half before the Mounties put the tying runs on base thanks to a Mengel double and Gustafson walk. Mengel and Gustafson came around to score the equalizing runs during the next at bat when Shepherd mishandled a ball sent to right field by Nales.
 
However, the momentum swung to the Rams erased the Mountaineers' effort in the top of the sixth with three runs before erupting for nine more in the seventh to break the game open with an 18-6 lead. The Rams increased their hit total to 15, while taking advantage of two Mountaineer mishaps.
 
Gustafson finished 1-for-3 with a walk and three-run home run , while Lowengart went 2-for-4 also adding a homer to power the Mountaineer offense. Freedman, Shander and Mengel (2-for-4) all scored and doubled. Freshman Jacob Houtz also added a two bagger. Sophomore Ryan King (1-3) was handed the loss in the circle, throwing 3 and 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out six. Lewis struck out three batters in relief, while sophomores Ian Wilbur and Luke Payne combined for 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
 
Ross Mulhall had a career day, finishing with three home runs, a double and game-high seven RBI to lead Shepherd. Adam Miller secured the win in relief, going 1 and 1/3 innings after the Rams took the lead.
 
The Mounties return to Shepherd on Monday, March 14 for a single game at 2 p.m.