Shepherdstown, W.Va. – The Mercyhurst softball team opened the doubleheader with a 11-0 win over Shepherd University but would fall short in game two, 7-5, despite their late inning efforts.  The Lakers ended their first game in the fifth inning after plating 11 runs through five innings off of nine hits. 

Mercyhurst exploded in the top half of the fifth inning scoring six of its 11 runs. Freshman Chynna Headrick drew a walk and would end up on second after swiping the bag to start the inning. Headrick scored on a Samantha Eimer's double. Kara Gorgos highlighted the inning with a single that manufactured two runs. Gorgos's two RBI gave the Lakers an 11-0 advantage heading into the bottom half of the fifth. 

Senior Amanda Norman shut the Rams down in the fifth to give the Lakers their 10^th win of the season. Norman pitched a one hit shutout, her first shutout of the season. The senior is off to a 5-1 start and is three wins away from tying her wins from just one season ago.

The Lakers designated hitter Courtney Smith matched Gorgos with two RBI in the first game. Smith added two hits to her 20 for the season giving her a .351 batting average thru 18 games. Eimers contributed to the win with two hits, two runs scored, and a RBI. Eimers is leading the team with a .400 batting average.

Shepherd took the second game in the two game set after scoring three runs in the first inning and the fifth inning helping them to a 7-5 win over the Lakers. Mercyhurst came on strong in the seventh inning scoring three runs just two runs from tying the Rams, but came up short.

The Lakers square off against Glenville State tomorrow (Mar.14) at 12 p.m. at Glenville, W. Va. Last season Mercyhurst edged out the Pioneers 3-2.