The new UVA Wise baseball field at Burchell “Slew” Stallard Stadium was opened for the 2024 season on Saturday, after a seven-month field overhaul. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Highland Cavaliers of UVA-Wise christened their new artificial turf baseball field last weekend, when they hosted Shepherd University for back-to-back doubleheaders.

Shepherd scored at least seven runs in each of the four seven-inning games at refurbished Stallard Field, yet could only split the series.

The early-February weather cooperated with temperatures around 50 degrees, and the hitters for both sides almost took turns scoring runs.

Shepherd won the openers on both Saturday and Sunday (the scores were 7-2 and 10-6), but dropped both nightcaps by similar 8-7 scores as the Cavaliers’ closer Hunter Anderson posted saves on both days.

Even a team batting average for the weekend of .328 couldn’t get the Rams any more than a split as its team ERA for combined four games was 5.65.

Most of the Rams’ hitters finished the weekend with some showy offensive numbers.

First-year shortstop Greg Borges, a transfer from Allegany Community College in Cumberland, went 8-for-14 (.571) with three extra base hits. Connor Dewees batted .400 and homered. Trey Sine hit .385, going 5-for-13.

Infielder Wyatt Miles had three homers, seven RBIs and hit .385 for his weekend’s showing. Idris Carter went 6-for-16 with three extra base hits and Sam Daggers finished the two-day series going 5-for-16 (.313). Corey Jamison had a .632 on-base percentage, homered once and scored seven runs as he batted leadoff in all four games. Shepherd had seven home runs in the four-game series.

Pitchers Oliver Leonard, Trevor Sharp, Chris Chaney and Brenden Lewis were the most effective Shepherd moundsmen.

Leonard pitched four innings, struck out five, allowed only one hit and walked two. Sharp started the season opener, going three innings while allowing two hits, three walks and fanning five.

The Highlander Cavaliers had Cole Harness slug four home runs altogether. Harness is closing in on the career UVA-Wise home run record.

The Rams are scheduled to travel to University of North Carolina Pembroke to play the Braves this weekend, with a doubleheader on Saturday and single game on Sunday.

UNC Pembroke opened its season sweeping three games from Aiken (South Carolina) last weekend.

Shepherd’s first home date at Fairfax Field is slated for March 6 against West Liberty University.

The Rams are coming off a 2023 season, where they completed an 8-15 record in the thriving PSAC while missing the eight-team conference tournament and had a 25-20 record overall.