WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (2-4) combined some clutch defense and some strong pitching to take a thrilling 3-2 extra-inning win over the Mars Hill Lions (6-2), Saturday afternoon. In a game that featured some strong pitching by both teams, the Rams added some clutch plays to take the home victory. WSSU senior outfielder Connor Bodenheimer hit a walk-off single to right field to seal the win in extra innings.

As a team, the Rams and the Lions combined for 18 hits in 11 innings of play, but in the end, the WSSU defense showed up to key the win. The Rams played their best defense with runners on the bases as they forced the Lions to leave 11 runners on base in the game. WSSU senior third baseman Nathan Steger led the way for the Rams with a two-for-four batting performance with a run scored. He was one of four Rams to record two hits in the game, including Bodenheimer, who went two-for-five at the plate with an RBI, sophomore designated hitter Phillip Page, who went two-for-four with two RBI, and senior outfielder Brandon Fowler, who went two-for-four with a run scored.

The Rams struck first in the game when Page hit a two-RBI double in the fifth inning to go ahead, 2-0. However, the Lions struck back with a pair of sixth inning runs of their own to tie the game and set the stage for the thrilling ending to the game. It was then that the WSSU defense stepped up to take the win as the Rams played their way out of bases-loaded jams in the eighth and ninth innings.

The WSSU pitching staff keyed the win for the Rams with senior Devin McLemore (1-0) getting the win, despite going just one third of an inning. Junior Justin Norton did the majority of the work as he got the start and went 7.2 innings and allowed eight hits and two runs (two earned). He also recorded eight strikeouts with a walk. Senior Jordan Cummings added three innings on the mound with no runs allowed on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

The Rams and Lions will return to action tomorrow when the two teams meet for a noon doubleheader at BB&T Ballpark in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C. For more information on Rams baseball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2152 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.