CARY, NC – The Winston-Salem State University Rams pounded out 14 hits, and got a big day at the plate from Jacob Barber, Dylan Dombrowskas and Gavin Culler, as the Rams rolled to a 8-4 win at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, NC.

With the win WSSU moves to 37-13 overall, while Virginia State falls to 25-16 overall. Also with the win, WSSU will advance to their fifth consecutive CIAA Baseball Championship Game.

The WSSU Rams got on the board in bottom of the second inning when Dylan Dombrowskas hit a solo home run to lead off the inning.

Virginia State answered with two runs of their own in the top of the third inning, but Winston-Salem State would keep their poise, and answer with a big bottom half of the third.

Gavin Culler would double through the right side, and a Colby Keene single would bring Culler home. Dylan Dombrowskas would pick up his second rbi of the game when he singled, scoring Keene, and Jacob Barber would double to bring home Dombrowskas and Connor Andrus to give the Rams a 5-2 lead.

The Virginia State Trojans would close the gap by scoring one run in the fourth and one run in the sixth inning to pull within one at 5-4.

But once again the WSSU Rams would keep their focus, and come away with a big sixth inning, where they would score three runs on four hits to pull away.

Jacob Barber led the inning off with a double and would be brought home on a Taylor Idol single, and Des Roberts would triple, bringing home Taylor Idol. Gavin Culler would bring home Des Roberts on a sacrifice fly to center field to push the WSSU lead to 8-4.

WSSU would allow just two hits over the next three innings to come away with the 8-4 win.

Aaron Hatch picked up the win for WSSU, going 5.2 innings, allowing four runs and 13 hits, while striking out four. Hayden O'Neal did a superb job out of the bullpen, going 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit. Devin McLemore went the final 0.2 innings to secure the 8-4 win.

Jacob Barber went 3 for 3 with a run scored, two runs batted in and three doubles, while Dylan Dombrowskas went 3 for 4 with two runs scored, two runs batted in and a home run. Gavin Culler went 3 for 4 with a run scored, a run batted in, and a double and triple. Colby Keene went 2 for 5 with a run scored and a run batted in, and Des Roberts went 1 for 5 with a run scored and a run batted in with a triple.

The Winston-Salem State Rams will face the Virginia State Trojans again in the championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. The Trojans nipped Chowan 4-3 in the elimination contest.

This will be the fifth consecutive finals appearance for the No. 1 seed Rams, who have played in the championship round every year since reclassifying to Division II. The Rams, who are unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament, need one win for the title while the Trojans have to win twice. Admission is $5.00.