Ben Shepard

Photo by: Kelly Hagenson

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Position:
RHP
Ht./Wt.:
6-1 / 185
Bats/Throws:
R/R
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Eden Prairie, Minn.
High School:
Eden Prairie

PRONUNCIATION

HIGHLIGHTS
2023 Season

2023 | REDSHIRT SENIOR Went 2-2 with a 4.69 ERA in 11 appearances (seven starts) in his lone season in the Maroon and Gold · struck out 37 with just 17 walks and 25 earned runs in 48.0 innings pitched · went five-or-more innings six times in his 11 outings, striking out three-or-more batters seven times. Game Highlights: Came out of the bullpen for 2.0 innings in his Gophers debut, striking out one and allowing no hits or runs vs. Saint Louis (Feb. 25) · in his first start against Milwaukee, hit pitched 4.0 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs (March 1) · posted a season-best seven strikeouts against NIU, going 5.0 innings with six hits and two earned runs (March 7) · went a season-long 6.2 innings, striking out six with five hits and two earned runs vs. Gonzaga (March 14) · tallied his first win as a Gopher at Illinois State, going 6.0 innings, striking out three with three earned runs and eight hits allowed (March 21) · struck out two, allowing one earned run at Ohio State (April 1) · had seven K's in 5.0 innings of work, allowing three earned runs vs. Iowa (April 14) · picked up a win in 6.0 innings of work, striking out three and giving up just one earned run vs. St. Thomas (April 26) · tossed 4.1 innings, striking out four with three earned runs vs. South Dakota State (May 16).

2022 | SUMMER Started in five games, tallying a 3-1 record with a 2.93 ERA for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League this past summer · tossed 27.1 innings, striking out 21 and walking just seven · his top outing was on June 10 against Mankato, where he went 7.0 innings, striking out six and allowing just one earned run and four hits · went six shutout innings twice in wins over Waterloo (June 3) and Duluth (June 16) · where he struck out seven and two hitters, respectively, allowing four hits in both games.

2022 | REDSHIRT JUNIOR (MINNESOTA-DULUTH) Started in 10 games in 2022, posting a 5-4 record with a 5.67 ERA in 57.1 innings · totaled a career-high 52 strikeouts, surrendering just 19 walks · went six-or-more innings six times in his 10 starts · his best performance of the season was on March 20 vs. Upper Iowa when he tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five · he struck out six in 6.0 innings at Northern State on April 22, allowing just three hits and no earned runs.

2021 | REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (MINNESOTA-DULUTH) Appeared in nine games during the 2021 season, all of which Shepard was the starting pitcher for · recorded 41.2 innings pitched, surrendered 66 hits while striking out 37 opposing pitchers · carried a 6.26 earned run average.

2020 | SOPHOMORE (MINNESOTA-DULUTH) Made two appearances in a shortened 2020 campaign including one start · amassed 6.1 innings pitched and notched a record of 1-1 · only surrendered 10 hits and three walks while striking out six opposing batters.

2019 | FRESHMAN (MINNESOTA-DULUTH) Started six games and made an appearance in 10 games in his rookie campaign · recorded his first collegiate win in a conference game against Winona State University on Apr 7, 2019 · finished the season with a 2-2 overall record · struck out 21 on the year while only walking 14 · pitched 35.0 innings for the Bulldogs · one of five Bulldogs to record a save in the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ben is a 2018 graduate of Eden Prairie High School.

PERSONAL: Born Benjamin Michael Shepard in Eden Prairie, Minn. · is the son of Mike and Melissa Shepard · has two younger brothers, Jonathan and Jake · is majoring in mechanical engineering.