PETERSBURG, Va. – Nikki Lynch was 3-for-3 with two RBI and Brittany Lane was masterful as the defending CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State Lady Rams cruised to a 5-1 victory over Virginia Union in an opening round game of the CIAA Softball Tournament.

Lane allowed just two hits and struck out 16 to earn the win.

The Lady Rams (25-16), who moved on to the winner's bracket to face Bowie State, scored four runs with two outs in the fourth inning, using two hits and two errors to break open a 1-0 game.

Tanaya Pettus added two hits and drove in a run for Winston-Salem State.

Virginia Union (11-27) fell to the loser's bracket to play St. Augustine's.