WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winston-Salem State allowed seven first inning runs, and four in the sixth, as Lenoir-Rhyne University rolled past the Rams 13-6 on Wednesday evening in Hickory, N.C.

Winston-Salem State would get on the board early, as the first batter of the game, Leland Clemmons, would be hit by a pitch. After Clemmons stole, Rafael Gonzalez would advance Clemmons to third on a fly out to center field. Ray Crawford would bring Clemmons home on a groundout to second base to give the Rams the early 1-0 lead.

But the home standing Lenoir-Rhyne Bears would bust the game wide open in the bottom half of the first inning, as they would go on to score seven runs on seven hits, and chased WSSU starter, Jordan Carlton out of the game with only two outs.

WSSU would start to chip away at the Bears lead in the third inning, as Anthony Nutall led off by getting hit by a pitch, and Rafael Gonzalez and Ray Crawford got back to back hits to load the bases for Conner Andrus. Andrus would double to left field, bringing home Nutall and Gonzalez. Colby Keene would drive ball to center field, picking up the RBI as Crawford jogged home on the sacrifice fly, to cut the lead to 7-4.

The Rams would inch closer in the fourth, after Alex Grubb reached on a fielding error, Anthony Nutall would be hit by a pitch. Both runners would advance on a wild pitch, and they both would advance one more base on another wild pitch to cut the score to 7-5. Leland Clemmons would bring home Nutall on a sacrifice fly to left field to trim the lead to just 7-6.

But once again Lenoir-Rhyne would come right back with another big inning, as they would score four runs on four hits, with an error from the Rams to go back out in front 11-6.

In the sixth, the LR Bears would put the game away for good as they would score two more runs on four hits with another Ram error to take a commanding 13-6 lead.

Winston-Salem State would be shut down the rest of the way, as Lenoir-Rhyne would take the game.

With the loss, Winston-Salem State falls to 27-14, while Lenoir-Rhyne improves to 13-28.

Ray Crawford led the Rams at the plate, going two for five with one run batted in and one run scored. Conner Andrus went one for four with two RBI's, a run scored and a double, while Rafael Gonzalez also went one for four with a run scored. Leland Clemmons was zero for three with a run scored and a run batted in, and Anthony Nutall scored twice and Alex Grubb also scored a run.

Jordan Carlton took the loss for the Rams, as he last just 0.2 of an inning, allowing seven runs on seven hits with two walks. JR Wright came on in relief and went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Seth McHaffey went an inning, allowing two runs on four hits, and Scott Well went an inning as well, allowing just one hit with a walk and a strikeout. Leland Clemmons pitched the last inning for the Rams, with one walk and three strikeouts.

The WSSU Rams will travel to Lincoln University, PA this weekend to take on the Tigers of The Lincoln University n a four game series. WSSU needs three wins in the series to win the CIAA regular season.