PETERSBURG, VA – After suffering a loss on day one of the 2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Tournament, the Winston-Salem State Lady Rams had to go the hard way to reach the championship round of the tournament. However, that didn't deter the Lady Rams that posted three wins on day two for the opportunity to defend their CIAA championship.  

The lady Rams opened the day on a high note with a 5-3 win over the Virginia Union Lady Panthers to take the win. The game was a shootout as the two teams combined for 15 hits. The Lady Rams were able to get the lion's share with nine hits in the game. The Lady Rams scored a pair of second inning runs with a third inning run as well as a pair of fourth inning runs. The five runs were all that they needed as they turned up their defense to only allow two more fifth inning runs to the Lady Panthers and sealed the win. WSSU freshman infielder Brittany Rich led the effort with a pair of RBI in the win.

The second game of the day turned out to be the toughest for the Lady Rams who had to play through 13 innings for a 4-3 win over the Chowan Lady Hawks to avoid elimination from the tournament. WSSU junior pitcher Brittany Lane put on a heroic effort throwing all 13 innings of the game. She finished the game after facing 52 batters and recording five strikeouts.  

In the third game of the day, the Lady Rams had to battle past a talented Bowie State team that gave them their loss yesterday. The Lady Rams were able to hold off the Lady Bulldogs to score the 4-1 win behind a solid defensive effort that allowed just one run in spite of nine hits by their opponents. WSSU freshman Francesa Edgerton hit a two-run home run in the second inning of the game.

With the three wins, the Lady Rams advance to the championship round of the tournament where they will face the host Virginia State Lady Trojans. The Lady Rams will have to defeat their foes twice in order to claim the 2012 CIAA championship. Game one is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. For more information on Lady Rams softball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.