Quintana

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Warmer weather favoring the hitters and fences that can be breached on a moments notice took control of the baseball doubleheader last Saturday that was split between Shepherd University and East Stroudsburg University.

Shepherd, grasping at any hand hold it can find to pull itself into the running for the fourth and final conference playoff berth, was outgunned in the opener,16-6, and then had its most effective pitcher this season going in the nightcap in Daniel Quintana. It won, 6-5, to maintain a viable chance of qualifying for the fourth and final spot in the postseason tournament.

A gusher of home runs — nine in all — took control of the first game, as visiting East Stroudsburg used its five long balls and a seven-run inning to down the Rams and their four home runs.

Quintana kept Shepherd in the nightcap, even after the Rams fell behind, 2-0, in the early innings. When the Rams caught the Warriors and then went in front with a walk-filled second frame of four runs, Shepherd’s winningest pitcher held control with his will and mostly strikes. He was almost always pitching from the stretc,h but kept the Warriors from stealing the bases they so desired, as the Rams slowly built a 6-3 lead by the latter innings.

Quintana’s pitch count was moving ever higher and finally he was relieved by Aidan Vanvickle, to begin the seventh.

Vanvickle allowed three hits to begin the seventh, but then he retired the next three batters to preserve what had shrunk to a one-run lead.

After the scoring spree in the opener, neither team could manage a home run the second game of the conference doubleheader.

Shepherd came out of the lengthy afternoon with a league record of 8-12. The two teams had split a doubleheader the day before in East Stroudsburg. The Warriors had a 15-5 record and had all but mathematically clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Four teams from both East and West Divisions will qualify for the postseason. Going into this weekend, Shepherd trails Shippensburg by one game for the fourth spot in the East. The Rams and Shippensburg are scheduled for doubleheaders today and tomorrow at Fairfax Field and in Shippensburg.

Aidan Greaney hit his league-leading 14th home run in the opener, to join Bodie Pullen, Wyatt Miles and Ethan Jones as the Rams who cleared the beckoning Fairfax Field fence. Easton Albert homered twice for the Warriors, to join Parker Frey, Dennis Pierce and Walker Zampella as East Stroudsburg batsmen to hit home runs.

The Warriors had 14 hits in the opener and 11 more in the nightcap, but came away with just one win. Shepherd managed just five hits in winning the second game — but it used the seven walks it received and left very few runners stranded in staying in contention for what has become an elusive playoff berth in recent seasons.

It’s Shepherd versus Shippensburg this weekend, with a playoff spot on the line.

Quintana and his fellow starting pitchers, Allen Miller and Michael Burnley, will possibly hold the playoff strings in their hands.

One of the season’s realistic goals is now in view. And the possible four games this weekend could decide the fate of that goal.

Shippensburg still has Kutztown to play next week. And Shepherd closes with four games against also-ran Bloomsburg in that same time frame.

Fairfax Field will again see shots aimed at its walls. And the playoffs still await.