WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State's Leland Clemmons scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Rams took care of business to defeat the Wingate University Bulldogs, 6-5 on Wednesday night at BB&T Ballpark in downtown Winston-Salem.

With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 21-11 overall, while Wingate falls to 21-8 overall.

Winston-Salem State got on the scoreboard quickly, as they were able to plate three runs in the bottom of the first.  Gavin Culler would single, followed by a Ray Crawford walk. Culler and Crawford would both advance a base on a wild pitch, and Conner Andrus would single to right field, scoring Culler. Crawford reach the plate on another wild pitch, and after loading the bases, Anthony Nutall would also be walked, bringing home Andrus.

Wingate would finally get on the board in the fourth inning, on a Tyler Simmons single that scored Brad Cherry.

The Bulldogs would score twice more in the fifth inning on two hits, and helped out by a Winston-Salem State error, to tie the game at 3-3.

But Winston-Salem State would fight back in the bottom half of the fifth inning, beginning with a walk by Colby Keene and a stolen base. Anthony Nutall would walk before stealing second, and Aaron Hatch would bring them home on a two rbi error by the Bulldogs second baseman.

Wingate would come right back in the top of the sixth with two more runs to tie the game at 5-5, to set up the late drama for Winston-Salem State.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, LeLand Clemmons started with a broken bat single to center field. He would then steal second. Eddie Araujo would reach on an infield bunt single to third base, advancing Clemmons to third. LeLand Clemmons would eventually score on a wild pitch, giving the Rams a 6-5 lead heading into the ninth and final inning.

The Rams' Devin McLEmore would come in and close the door on the Bulldogs, sitting them down one, two and three, to give Winston-Salem State the win.

For the Rams, Aaron Hatch went one for four with two runs batted in, and Rafael Gonzalez finished two for four. Conner Andrus finished one for five with a run batted in and a run scored and Anthony Nutall picked up a run batted in while going zero for two with a run scored. Levi Grassley went one for four, Gavin Culler went one for two with a run scored and LeLand Clemmons finished one for three with the game winning run scored. Eddie Araujo went one for one in his only appearance at the plate.

Wesley Helsabeck pitched 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while walking three and striking out two. Eric Corlett (5-1) came on to pitch 3.2 innings and picked up the win. Corlett allowed four hits and one earned run, while striking out four. Devin McLemore pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the season.

For the Bulldogs, Shane Billings finished three for five with a run scored and Eric Serra finished three for four with a run scored to lead Wingate. Five other Bulldogs had one hit each an four Bulldogs had one rbi each.

Wingate used four pitchers on the evening, and Brandon Donahue was saddled with the loss.

Winston-Salem State will host St. Augustine's University on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in Mocksville, and will host Elizabeth City State on Friday, with the double header action starting at 3:00 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark.