WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- Travis Moore, Rafael Gonzalez, Paco Martin and Levi Grassley combined to go 11 for 18 with 12 runs batted in, as Winston-Salem State overcame a sluggish first inning to defeat West Virginia State, 14-8 Monday night at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem.

WV State jumped out quick on the Rams, as they cam e to the plate first pitch swinging, and were able to plate four runs on five hits in the first to take an early 4-0 lead. 

The Rams battled back to score three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first, as  Levi Grassley singled home Paco Martin who doubled, and Rafael Gonzalez plated Travis Moore and Aaron Jones  on a single.

WSSU would score three more runs in the bottom of the second inning, as a Travis Moore  single to center field would score Martin and Brandon Harrison. Grassley would single again later in the inning scoring Moore, to give WSSU a 6-4 lead. 

In the fourth inning, Levi Grassley would single again, plating Aaron Jones and Travis Moore to give WSSU an 8-5 advantage.

Winston-Salem State would scored six more times over the next three innings, and would wind up with a 14-8 win.

All of the WSSU Rams' bats were hot on the chilly night, as Rafael Gonzalez finished 3 for 4 with 4 rbi's and a run scored, while Paco Martin went 3 for 6 with a rbi and two runs scored. Travis Moore was blistering hot as well, going 3 for 5 with 3 rbi's and 3 runs scored, and Levi Grassley went 2 for 4 with 4 rbi's. Aaron Jones joined the hit parade with a 2 for 5 night with 3 runs scored, and Brandon Harrison scored two runs, as Tyler Hickernell and Rafael Rivas and German Reyes also scored runs.

WV State was led by Zachary Cloxton who went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, while Noah Blackhurst went 2 for 4 with 3 runs batted in.

WSSU will host Mars Hill on Thursday at 4:00 PM at BB&T Ballpark.