WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (20-20, 13-3 CIAA) closed out the 2015 regular season in style when they took a dominating 19-5 win over the Shaw Lady Bears (7-25, 6-10 CIAA), Sunday afternoon. The Lady Rams took the win behind a solid overall effort with some great play on both sides of the ball.

As a team, the Lady Rams finished the game with 17 total hits and turned them into 19 runs for the win with only one fielding error. WSSU sophomore Mercedes Hargett had her second stellar batting effort with a two-for-two batting effort with a grand slam home run, a double, two runs scored, and four RBI in the game. Sophomore pitcher Katherine Zimmer added a three-for-four effort with three runs scored. Freshman outfielder Anna Marino was three-for-four with three RBI and three runs scored.

The Lady Rams jumped out early and never looked back as they scored at least five runs scored in three of the four innings that the team batted in. After allowing a first inning run to the Bears, the Lady Rams took control of the game early when Hargett hit her second grand slam home run of the day to put the team on top, 4-0. Senior infielder Katrina Bartlett added a score when she took advantage of the Shaw passed ball to leave the Lady Rams on top, 5-1 after the first inning. The Lady Rams returned in the second inning when Bartlett hit a two-RBI double that scored Zimmer and Hargett. A WSSU double steal later in the inning allowed Marino to score as well. Freshman catcher Melissa Carillo drove in Marino on an RBI single later in the inning. Sophomore infielder Jada Johnson returned the favor when she hti an RBI single to score Marino. Senior infielder Monet Daly closed out the scoring in the inning when she hit a sacrifice fly that scored Johnson. In the third inning, the Lady Rams added three runs when sophomore Danyelle Beamon hit an RBI groundout that scored sophomore outfielder Chyna Riley. Zimmer scored once again on a Shaw passed ball later in the inning as well. Marino in turn closed the scoring in the inning when she scored on a Shaw fielding error. The Lady Rams closed out their scoring efforts in the fourth inning when Marino hit a three RBI double which was followed by another Marino score on a Shaw wild pitch. Daly showed up once again when she hit an RBI single up the middle to score Carillo. From there, the Lady Rams closed out the win with just four fifth-inning runs allowed to the Bears to end the game.

Zimmer (4-0) took the pitching victory when she went all five innings with six hits allowed, including allowing just one through the first four innings. She allowed just five runs (four earned) and added four strikeouts with two walks.

With the win, the Lady Rams improve to 20-20 overall and 13-3 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The team has completed the regular season and will take part in the 2015 CIAA Softball Championship Tournament later this week.

For more information on Lady Rams softball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.