SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Craig Shepherd capped his first season for the University of Evansville in impressive fashion as the freshman shortstop was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament team for his performances over UE's three-game stay in the event last week.
Shepherd, a native of Jasper, went 5-for-9 over the three games, and with a pair of hit-by-pitches and a walk to his name, he reached base safely eight times for a .667 on-base percentage. He also doubled twice, scored five runs and knocked in two more.
Shepherd was especially key to the Aces in big moments, going 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position. He also kick-started the five-run rally against Bradley that changed the dynamics of the contest. Entering the bottom of the third, Bradley had just cut the lead to 4-2. Shepherd extended the frame with a single, and then five straight Aces went on to reach base, stretching the lead out to 9-2. Shepherd would score another run in the game as UE went on to pick up the 12-2 victory, which marked the highest-scoring postseason game for the Aces since 2006.
Dallas Baptist's Devlin Granberg, who helped the Patriots end eighth-seeded Illinois State's dream tournament run in the Sunday's championship game, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, and his teammate, Gavin Fritz, picked up the Elite 18 award. In all, four DBU players earned a spot on the all-tournament squad, and they were joined by three players from Illinois State and two apiece from Indiana State and Missouri State.
The all-tournament team is determined by a vote of the media in attendance at the MVC Championship.
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