PEMBROKE, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (0-1) softball team opened the 2016 season on a down not when the team took a 7-4 loss to Kutztown (2-1), Saturday afternoon in the Campbell Oil/Minuteman Invitational hosted by UNC-Pembroke. The Rams took the loss in spite of scoring four runs in the sixth inning.

As a team, the Rams had a solid outing with six total hits in the game. Freshman shortstop Destiny Snipes led the way when she went two-for-three from the plate with a double and three RBI. Junior first base Rebecca Demko added a two-for-three effort as well while freshman first base Mesha Jones added an RBI.

All six Kutztown runs came in the first five innings of play as the Rams allowed an opening inning run, followed by five third inning runs and a fifth-inning run. The Rams struck back, however, with four sixth inning runs when Snipes hit a three-RBI double to kick of the Rams' rally. Jones then drove in Snipes with an RBI single of her own. However, the effort was not enough as the Rams ended the day with the loss.

WSSU junior Katherine Zimmer (0-1) took the pitching loss, going two and one-thirds innings and allowing six total runs (five earned). Junior Mercedes Hargett entered the game for four and two-thirds innings and finished the game with one run allowed (none earned) and four strikeouts.

The Rams would not have long to rest, however, as the team would go on to finish the day with a game against the Concord Mountain Lions. For more information on Rams softball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.