WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State University baseball moved closer to clinching the CIAA Regular Season Title, as the Rams swept a double header from The Lincoln Lions, 3-1 and 8-4 today at the LU Baseball Complex today in Lincoln University, PA.
With today's two wins, Winston-Salem State improves to 29-14 overall, 14-4 in the CIAA, while The University Lions fall to 2-28 overall and 2-16 in the CIAA.
In game one, WSSU struck first, as Rafael Gonzalez led off the second inning with a walk. Levi Grassley and Gavin Culler would also draw walks to load the bases for Leland Clemmons. Clemmons would bring Gonzalez in on another walk to give the Rams the early 1-0 lead.
Neither team would be able to get runner in scoring position until the seventh inning, when the Rams would plate two more runs on two hits. Anthony Nutall would walk and then be advanced on a Ray Crawford groundout to third. Nutall would advance to third on a wild pitch, followed by back to back doubles from Rafael Gonzalez and Colby Keene to give the Rams a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Lincoln Lions would manage to finally break into the scoring column with one run on two hits combined with a WSSU error, but it would not be enough as the Rams would take game one 3-1.
At eh plate for the Rams, Rafael Gonzalez finished the game going three for four with two runs scored and a double, while Colby Keene would go two for four with a run batted in and a double. Levi Grassley went one for two, and Leland Clemmons and Conner Andrus each had a run batted in.
Scott Wells (6-1) picked up the win for the Rams, as he pitched a complete game scattering eight hits over seven innings, allowing just one unearned while walking two and striking out four.
In game two, The Rams once again got on the scoreboard first, this time in the second inning as they would bring home three runs on two hits with a Lion error. Colby Keene led off the inning with a walk and Rafael Gonzalez would reach on an error by the Lincoln shortstop. Jacob Barber would double to bring home both Keene and Gonzalez. Leland Clemmons would come to plate and also double to bring home Barber to give the Rams the early 3-0 lead.
Lincoln University would bounce back in the bottom half of the inning and off of two hits, would plate a run to cut into the WSSU lead.
Winston-Salem State would once again explode for a big inning in the fourth, started by Jacob Barber getting hit by a pitch, and an Eddie Araujo walk. Leland Clemmons would single home Barber and Ray Crawford would bring home both Araujo and Clemmons to give WSSU a 6-1 lead.
Lincoln would bounce back with run in their half of the fourth inning to once again chip away at the Rams lead, 6-2.
But Leland Clemmons would put some distance between the two teams as he singled then stole both second and third base before being brought home on a Anthony Nutall single to left field to give WSSU a 7-2 lead.
The Lions would score twice in the sixth inning, off of two hits and an error from Ray Crawford in right field to cut the score to 7-4.
WSSU would put the game away in the seventh when Jacob Barber would bring home Colby Keene, and the Rams would shut down Lincoln in the bottom half to give WSSU the 8-4 win.
Leland Clemmons led the Rams, going three for four with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Jacob Barber had a solid outing, going one for three with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Anthony Nutall finished one for three with a run batted in and Ray Crawford was one for four with a run batted in.
Ryan Mayhew (2-2) picked up the win for WSSU, going 3.1 innings, allowing two run and five hits, while walking five and striking out five. Seth McHaffey finished the game in relief, going 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, one run and one walk while striking out five.
The two teams will be back in action again tomorrow beginning at 1:00 pm for anther doubleheader. Winston-Salem State needs just a split to win the CIAA Regular Season.
