DII/CIAA/Baseball
Winston-Salem Sports Information
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams jumped out to a big early lead, and held off the hard charging Millersville Marauders, 7-5 today at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem.
The win moves the WSSU Rams to 3-1 overall, while Millersville falls to 1-1.
Millersville jumped out to an early 2-0, lead, when Dan Stoltzfus launched a home run to deep left center field in the second inning to put the Marauders out in front early.
But the Rams were able to bounce back, and got a run in the bottom half of the second inning on a solo home run off the bat of Michael McNamara, to cut the lead to 2-1.
It was bottom of the third inning where the WSSU Rams starting pounding the pitching the Millersville. Dylan Dombrowskas doubled down the left field line, scoring Taylor Idol and Gavin Culler. Conner Andrus would single and advance to second on an error in the outfield for MU, scoring Dombrowskas to give the Rams a 4-2 lead.
The Rams would break it wide open in the fourth, as they were able to cross three more runs. A Tyler Idol single would score Michael McNamara, followed by a 2-run single from Gavin Culler to give WSSU a commanding 7-2 advantage.
Millersville would try and fight back with a big fifth inning, when they would score three runs on two hits, and helped by two WSSU errors to cut the Rams lead to 7-5.
But WSSU’s Devin McLemore would come in during the sixth inning and closed the door on any hope for Millersville, as WSSU would take game two of the series, 7-5.
Aaron Hatch (1-0) picked up the win for Winston-Salem State, going 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Devin McLemore (1) picked up the save, going 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, while striking out five and walking one.
Taylor Idol led the way for WSSU at the plate, going three for five with a one scored and a run batted in, while Gavin Culler (1 for 3) and Dylan Dombrowskas, 1 for 4, 1 run) each picked up two rbi’s on the afternoon. Des Roberts went two for five, and Conner Andrus (1 for 3, 1 rbi), Michacel McNamara (1 for 3, 2 runs, 1 rbi), Alex Grubb (1 for 4, 1 run) and Colby Keene (1 for 4, 1 run) each picked up a hit.
WSSU will go for the series win tomorrow at 12:00 pm, as the Rams and Marauders will conclude the series at BB&T Ballpark.