WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State could not overcome four errors, seven walks from the pitching staff and a big inning from #32 Millersville University, as the Rams fell to the Marauders 8-3 Friday night at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem.

With the loss, WSSU falls to 2-1 on the season, while Millersville improves to 1-0.

Millersville got on the scoreboard with two runs in the fourth and six in the fifth inning. The fourth began with three consecutive hits followed by a double from Luke Emling. The double brought home the game's first run and Mitch Stoltzfus plated Dan Stoltzfus, with a ground out.

In the fifth inning, the Marauders started with a walk, and back-to-back singles. A bases-loaded walk, and two consecutive Ram errors extended the Millersville lead to a comfortable margin. Two more runs crossing the plate gave Millersville an 8-0 lead.

The Rams dug deep, and fought back in the eighth inning, when Colby Keene singled to left and advanced to third on back to back wild pitches. Taylor Idol would double to left center, scoring Keene. Gavin Culler would reach on an error, and Idol would come around to score.After a walk to Des Roberts, Connor Andrus would single to center loading the bases. After another Millersville pitching change, Dylan Dombrowskas would single to right field, scoring Gavin Culler, and cutting the lead to 8-3 heading into the ninth.

WSSU would not manage any more runs and would drop the game to the Marauders.

"I thought Chris Murphy (MU) was outstanding tonight. But when we face a good #1, we have to stay in games until we get to the bullpen" said WSSU head coach, Kevin Ritsche.  "The last two games we have proved that we can fight back once we get into the their bullpens but tonight we let it slip away in the middle of the game and couldn't limit the big 6 run inning they had", added Ritsche.

"Tomorrow we need a good outing from Aaron Hatch and he needs to limit free bases and we have to make the routine plays", says Ritsche.

Jordan Carlton (0-1) took the loss for WSSU, going 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, with five walks and four strikeouts. Sam Burton pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three runs, with just one earned, while giving up four hits, with two walks while striking out five batter. Hayden O'Neal pitched a perfect ninth inning.

Winston-Salem State was led at the plate by Alex Grubb who finished two for four with double, while Des Roberts went two for three. Taylor Idol finished one for four with a run scored and a run batted in. Dylan Dombrowskas went one for four with a run batted in and Gavin Culler went one for five with a run scored and a run batted in. Colby Keene finished one for three with a run scored, while Nathan Steger went one for four. Conner Andrus went one for five on the night.

The two teams will play game two of the series tomorrow at BB&T Ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm.