Shepherd University pitcher Steve Bowley allowed 11 earned runs and seven hits in five innings, during the game against the Aiken Pacers. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — South Carolina-Aiken did what it usually does when seeing Shepherd’s baseball team come south in early February. It defeated the Rams three times without a loss, leaving Shepherd with a 1-5 overall record, and leaving the Pacers with a 6-0 overall mark.

And the weather wasn’t conducive to getting much better for later in Shepherd’s season. The three games were played the first day with a temperature in the upper 40s in wind with South Carolina-Aiken winning, 13-0, on a one-hitter; the second day the Pacers won, 7-3, on another afternoon with the temperature in the upper 40s; and then the series closed with the Pacers on top, 8-5, and the temperature stayed in the lower 40s.

After six games the Rams brought home a team batting average of .173, scored 2.8 runs a game, collected a total of 11 extra base hits, struck out 73 times (12.2 times a game) and went 1-for-4 in stolen bases.

The pitching statistics after facing South Carolina-Aiken and UNC Pembroke saw the Rams staff with a 7.71 earned run average and the two opponents have a .289 batting average against it.

In losing 13-0 in the series opener against the Pacers, Shepherd pitcher Steve Bowley allowed 11 earned runs and seven hits in five innings.

The 7-3 loss in the second game saw Jared Carr homer, Dalton Stewart land two hits and the Rams get eight hits.

Mitchell Wilson went 5.1 innings and allowed four runs (all earned) and seven hits. Eric O’Brien went two scoreless innings and yielded two hits.

The Pacers completed the sweep of the three games by posting an 8-5 win on Sunday. Carr had two hits and Zach Doss also collected two hits.

Nick Trabacchi went four innings, allowed five hits and two earned runs. Ryan Marketell was impressive in two innings of relief when he struck out six and didn’t give up any earned runs.

The Rams will play non-conference games in Virginia this weekend.