RALEIGH, NC – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (23-21) turned to their offense to keep their season alive at the 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Softball Championship Tournament. The Lady Rams took the win behind a strong batting performance with 10 runs scored on 14 hits in the game.

The Lady Rams' 10 runs came in two big innings as they scored six second-inning runs before closing things out with four fifth-inning runs to claim the victory. Freshman catcher Melissa Carillo kicked things off in the second inning when she hit an RBI single to score sophomore Katherine Zimmer. Sophomore infielder Jada Johnson added an RBI single of her own to score senior third base Katrina Bartlett. Senior second base Monet Daly then kept the rally going with a two-RBI double that scored Carillo and freshman outfielder Anna Marino. An RBI bunt single from outfielder Kiah Ruffin kept the rally going before sophomore pitcher Chyna Riley hit an RBI groundout that capped the rally and left the Lady Rams on top 6-0 after the second inning. The Trojans added a pair of fourth-inning runs that cut the WSSU led down to four runs, 6-2. However, it was in the fifth-inning when the Lady Rams rolled to the win. Sophomore pitcher Mercedes Hargett hit a two-RBI home run to open the inning. Carillo hit another RBI groundout while Ruffin hit another RBI single to claim the win.

Carillo led the WSSU offensive effort with a two-for-three effort with two runs scored and two RBI. Hargett went one-for-three with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored.

Riley (6-8) took the pitching victory with 3.1 innings of action with two runs allowed (one earned). She recorded a strikeout with a walk. Hargett also pitched in the game for 1.2 innings with four hits, no runs, and no runs allowed. She also recorded two strikeouts.

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.