PEMBROKE – Shepherd plated a trio of runs in the top of the fourth to stake claim to a commanding 10-2 lead, but the 40^th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team put together a trio of multi-run innings, and used Ethan Baucom's walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the ninth to finish off a weekend sweep of the Rams with a 13-12 win on Saturday evening.
 
The win capped a perfect opening weekend for the Braves (3-0) who have now won 12-straight games at Sammy Cox Field dating back to April 3 of last season. Shepherd (0-3) fell to 13-35 all-time against the Black & Gold in a series that dates all the way back to the 1985 season.
 
Six players registered multi-hit nights for the Braves, including Baucom who drove in three runs on a 4-for-6 showing. Senior Luke Jackson walked, doubled and scored twice on a 3-for-5 outing for the Black & Gold as well. The Rams got three hits apiece from three different players, including preseason all-American Brenton Doyle who tripled and scored on a 3-for-4 night.
 
Brandon Winstead (1-0), who picked up his first save in the Black & Gold in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader, notched his first win with the Braves after throwing five pitches in a scoreless ninth. Tyler Shorter (0-1) surrendered four runs (3 earned) on six hits in 2-1/3 innings of relief to saddle the loss for the Rams.
 
Sophomore Alex Simpson gave UNCP a quick lead on a two-run double with two outs in the first, but Shepherd answered with seven runs in the second, and then pushed their advantage out to eight runs with three more scores in the fourth.
 
The Braves picked up a run on newcomer Brennen Hogan's sac fly in the fourth, and then sent 11 batters to the plate to fuel a 6-run sixth innings that made it a 10-7 contest. The Rams would plate lone insurance scores in the top of the seventh and ninth innings to take a seemingly comfortable 12-9 advantage.
 
Jarratt Mobley punched a one-out single into centerfield to get the Black & Gold going in the ninth, and Hogan followed with a RBI triple to the gap in right field. Kevon Perkins logged a RBI single moments later to make it a two-run game, and the Braves averted disaster when a bouncer off the bat of Jackson was misplayed in the infield.
 
Trevor Clemons singled home Perkins from second base to knot the score up for the first time since the second inning, and Baucom completed the comeback with a first-pitch RBI single into left field off of reliever Eric O'Brien.
 
The Braves will close out a season-opening six-game home stand next weekend when they suit up to battle Indiana (Pa.) in a three-game set at Sammy Cox Field. The squads will open the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.