Rams Take Tough 7-5 Loss to Shaw
April 5, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Some late miscues proved costly for the Winston-Salem State Rams (23-15, 16-5 CIAA) in a 7-5 loss to the Shaw Bears (14-23, 9-12 CIAA), Tuesday afternoon. After rallying for a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning, the Rams were outscored 5-2 in the final two innings of the game to take the loss in the opening game of the doubleheader.
The loss came in spite of a solid day at the plate for the Rams as the team totaled nine hits in the game, including a two-RBI home run by sophomore infielder Tyler Hickernell, who was one-for-two from the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Junior outfielder Dominique Fitzgerald led the way for the Rams with three hits in four at-bats with two runs scored.
The Rams ran into some early struggles when Shaw scored on a WSSU throwing error that drove in a pair of scores and left the Rams trailing 2-0. The Rams had an answer, however, as the team struck with a two-RBI home run by Hickernell that tied the game. The Rams took the lead in the fourth inning when junior catcher Michael Robbins hit an RBI triple that scored fellow junior Michael Graham.
However, things got tough for the Rams in the sixth inning when the Rams allowed three runs on an error in the outfield to fall behind, 5-2. The Bears added a pair of seventh-inning runs as well. The Rams made an effort at the rally when freshman infielder Andrew Miller hit an two-RBI double in the seventh inning. However, the effort wasn't enough as the Rams ended the game with the loss.
WSSU sophomore John Markley (4-2) took the pitching loss as he allowed three runs to the Bears. Junior Wesley Edwards got the start and did the bulk of the work on the mound with 3.1 innings of action with two runs allowed and five strikeouts.
The Rams and Bears would go on to complete the doubleheader with the second game. For more information on Rams baseball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
