WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem State got timely hitting and a perfect game at the plate for Ray Crawford, to go along with excellent pitching out of the bullpen, as the Rams took game one of a double header, 11-3 at Leonard Field in Greensboro, NC.

After a scoreless game for one and half innings, WSSU busted down the door in the second inning, exploding for five runs on six hits to take the early 5-0 advantage.

The inning began with a walk from Colby Keene, followed by a single to right field from Aaron Hatch. Rafael Gonzalez would sacrifice the runner over a base with a bunt, before Anthony Nutall would double down the left field line scoring Keene. Leland Clemmons would hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Hatch and advancing Nutall to third. Conner Andrus then singled to right field scoring Nutall. Ray Crawford would keep the big inning going with a single to left field. Jacob barber then single to left, scoring Andrus. Alex Grubb then singled to right, scoring Crawford.

Elizabeth City would get on the board in the third inning after an Andre Perkins double, and eventually came around to score on a throwing error by WSSU's Conner Andrus.

WSSU would come right back in the bottom half of the inning to score two more runs, starting with a walk from Aaron Hatch. Hatch would advance to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, before Anthony Nutall also walked. In a bizarre play, Leland Clemmons would draw a walk and Aaron Hatch would steal home on the play after the Vikings catcher decided to throw the ball to second on a walk. Raw Crawford once again would come through with a single to right field, scoring Nutall, to give WSSU a 7-1 lead.

Elizabeth City battled back to plate another run in the fifth inning, as Perkins scored on a Daniel Graham groundout to second base, to cut the Rams' lead to 7-2.

But the WSSU Rams were able to cement the game away with four runs over their last two at-bats, on seven hits.

Rafael Gonzalez led off the inning with a single to center field, and Leland Clemmons followed with a walk. Conner Andrus singled to load the bases for Raw Crawford. Crawford would single and then advance to second on an error by the second baseman, allowing both Gonzalez and Clemmons to score.

In the sixth, Colby Keene walked followed by an Aaron Hatch single. Rafael Gonzalez singled to left field, scoring Keene, and Anthony Nutall also singled to left field, scoring Hatch, to give WSSU an 11-2 lead heading into the seventh.

The Vikings were able to plate a run, but that is as close as they would get as the Rams ran their record to 25-11 overall and 12-3 in the CIAA with the 11-3 win.

Winston-Salem State was led at the plate by Ray Crawford, who finished the game four for four with three runs batted in and a run scored, followed by Anthony Nutall who finished two for three with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Conner Andrus went three for five with an RBI and a run scored, and Aaron Hatch finished two for three with three runs scored. Rafael Gonzalez finished two for three with a run batted in and a run scored, while Leland Clemmons went one for two with an RBI and a run scored. Jacob Barber and Alex Grubb each went one for four with a run batted in.

Seth McHaffey picked up his first win of the season in eight appearances for the Rams out of the bullpen, going 4.2 innings, scattering six hits and two runs. He struck out two and walked one. Austin Comesanas started for WSSU, going 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run, while walking four and striking out three.

In the second game, Elizabeth City State scored two runs in the seventh inning and held the Rams at bay at the plate to defeat the Rams 4-2 and take a split of the day's double header action.

Elizabeth City State scored early in the first inning, and then again in the third to open up a 2-0 lead, while their pitching kept the Rams stifled at the plate without a hit until the fourth inning.

Conner Andrus walked to start the inning but was cut down at second on a Ray Crawford fielder's choice. Jacob Barber singled to advance Crawford and Aaron Hatch followed that up with a single to left field to score Ray Crawford and cut the Vikings lead to 2-1.

The Rams would strike again in the fifth inning, when Levi Grassley started the inning by reaching on an error. Anthony Nutall would advance Grassley on a sacrifice bunt. After Leland Clemmons would be hit by a pitch, Grassley would reach third on a wild pitch and Clemmons would steal second. Conner Andrus would come to the plate and would get hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ray Crawford would bring home Levi Grassley on a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game at 2-2.

Winston-Salem State would have a great opportunity to take the lead in the sixth inning, as they were able to load the bases. But a fly out to right field would end the inning.

The ECSU Vikings would score twice in the seventh inning, and were able to keep the Rams from scoring in the bottom half to take a 4-2 win over WSSU.

For Winston-Salem State, Aaron Hatch finished one for two with a run batted while, while Conner Andrus went one for two and Jacob Barber went one for four, to collect the only hits for the Rams. Ray Crawford had a run batted in and scored a run, and Levi Grassley also scored a run.

Eric Corlett (5-1) took the loss for the Rams, going the final 1.2 innings, allowing two runs, three hits while striking out three. Ryan Mayhew started the game for WSSU, going 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, two runs, walking two and striking out five.

The Rams record now stands at 25-12 overall and 12-4 in the CIAA. Elizabeth City State improves to

Winston-Salem State will be back in action tomorrow, when they travel to Salisbury, NC to take on Catawba University, and then they will go to Greenwood, SC to take on the #2 ranked Lander Bearcats on Wednesday evening at 5:00 pm.