BECKLEY, W.Va. – University of Charleston had top-seeded Shepherd on the ropes in the opening game of the 2017 MEC Baseball Tournament but fell just short in their first MEC postseason appearance, dropping a close 10-6 contest to the Rams.
 
THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE         Shepherd University 10, University of Charleston 6
 
LOCATION               Beckley, W.Va. (Linda K. Epling Stadium)
RECORDS                Charleston (30-21); Shepherd (29-21)

THE GAME
 
Charleston's Austin Hathaway started the MEC Tournament with a bang, blasting a solo HR to right field in the game's first at-bat, giving UC a 1-0 lead just seconds after the first pitch.  Hathaway would go on to hit a pair of homeruns on the afternoon, another blast coming in the 9^th inning with UC trailing 10-5.
 
Shepherd also provided fireworks, blasting three homeruns of their own which were all solo shots.  But for every blast by the Rams, UC would have an answer and were deadlocked at 5-5 entering the 8^th inning before Shepherd exploded for five runs to take a commanding 10-5 lead into the final frame.
 
Despite the loss, Charleston pounded out 13 hits, including six extra-base hits, against Ram pitching.  The Golden Eagles got multi-hit games from five of their nine batters, led by Lee Carneal's three-hit day. 
 
Kaleb Kinder got the start for UC, giving up four runs on eight Ram hits in four innings of work.  Robert Fultineer was the pitcher of record for Charleston, allowing five runs in relief but accounted for all three of UC's strikeout in his three innings on the mound.
 
UC moves to the losers bracket to take on Concord University in an elimination game.  Concord entered as the South Division Champion but took a 12-6 loss in their opener against Fairmont State.  First pitch between the Golden Eagles and Mountain Lions is set for 11 a.m. at Linda K. Epling Stadium.