WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State University Rams faltered late and could not hold off the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, and fell 14-11 on Tuesday evening at BB&T Ballpark in downtown Winston-Salem, NC.

With the loss, Winston-Salem State falls to 22-7, while Lenoir-Rhyne improves to 20-12 on the season.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears wasted no time in breaking into the scoring column, as they were able to get to the Rams pitching early and scored two runs in the first and two in the second to go ahead 4-0.

WSSU fought back, and in the bottom of the second inning got one run back, when Nathan Steger tripled to right field scoring Connor Andrus to cut the lead to 4-1.

The Bears would answer with three runs in the fourth inning to lead, 7-1, and it looked as if they would run away with the game.

But Winston-Salem State would come back with a big sixth inning, where they would plate six runs on six hits, to tie the game at 7-7. Connor Andrus homered to start the inning, followed by a Jacob Barber double. After a Nathan Steger single, and Alex Grubb was hit by a pitch, Colby Keene singled, brining in Chris Kane, who was pinch running for Barber. Des Roberts would double down the left field line, clearing the bases and Dylan Dombrowskas doubled down the left field line to score Des Roberts.

Lenoir –Rhyne was not done, and scored a run in the top half of the fifth inning, to surge ahead 8-7.

The Rams once again had an answer in the bottom of the sixth, as Dylan Dombrowskas doubled to right field allowing Des Roberts to score , and Dombrowskas would eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Rams a 9-8 lead.

Once again the Bears would fight back, and would score a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 9-9.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, WSSU would plate two more runs, and looked to salt the game away. Connor Andrus and Chris Kane would pick up rbi's and WSSU would take a 11-9 lead in the final frame.

But two big errors by WSSU infielders, coupled with three hits, doomed the Rams as Lenoir-Rhyne would score five runs to take a 14-11 lead.

Winston-Salem State would go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, to fall to the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, 14-11.

Devin McLemore took the loss for the WSSU, after surrendering three hits, three runs and a walk in the ninth. Only one run was earned, however. Eric Corlett started for WSSU and went four innings, allowing seven runs on six hits with four strikeouts, and Hayden O'Neal went 0.2 inning allowing one run, walking two and strikeout. Tyler Scearce went 1.1 innings, and allowed one hit, one run with two walks and a strikeout, and Jordan Cummings went 2.0 innings, and gave up two runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Des Roberts led the Rams at the plate, going three for five with three runs scored and three runs batted in, including a double, while Connor Andrus went two for four with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Dylan Dombrowskas also finished two for four with one run scored and two runs batted in. Nathan Steger went two for five with one run scored and one run batted in, and Colby Keene went one for five with one run scored and one rbi. Chris Kane went one for two with a run scored and one run batted in. Jacob Barber finished one for two, while Gavin Culler scored one run.

Winston-Salem State will host the Catawba Indians on Wednesday evening at BB&T Ballpark, and first pitch is schedule for a 6:00 pm start.