SALISBURY, NC – The Winston-Salem State University baseball team fell behind big early, and could overcome the hot bats of the Catawba, and fell 18-5 to the Indians on Tuesday evening at Newman Park.

With the loss, the WSSU Rams fall to 18-18 overall while the Catawba Indians improve to 25-15 on the season.

Catawba took the lead early, with four runs in the first inning, with three of those runs coming off of a three run home run, as Catawba jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead.

WSSU answered in the second inning, as Landon Steiner hit a two run home run, also scoring Ivan Acuna, to cut the Indians lead to 4-2.

The Indians exploded in the second inning for another six runs, on five hits to move out in front 10-2, and then virtually put the game away in the third inning, after scoring four more runs to take an overwhelming 14-2 lead after just three innings.

WSSU got one run back in the fourth when Orlando Cannon walked with the bases loaded, scoring Randy Norris.

The WSSU Rams tried chipping away at Catawba's lead in the sixth when they plated two runs, first on a Jason Baytop single through the right side that scored Orlando Cannon, and then on a Nathan Steger fielder's choice that scored Rashad Webster.

Catawba scored twice more in the bottom of the eighth inning, to cap the scoring and allowed the Indians to take the game, 18-5.

Devin McLemore took the loss for WSSU, lasting just 1.2 innings, allowing 10 runs on seven hits, with two walks and three strikeouts. Hayden O'Neal went 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Austin Cole pitched 1.0 innings, allowing just one hit, while Eric Corlett went 3.0 innings giving up two runs on one hit with one walk. Marcus McKoy lasted 0.2 of an inning, giving up two runs on one hits with four walks and one strikeout, and Tyler Scearce went 0.1 of an inning, with a strikeout.

Landon Steiner led the Rams offensively, going 2 for 3, with a home run and one run scored, while driving in two. Jason Baytop went 1 for 5 with one run batted in and Nathan Steger picked up the Rams other run batted in. Rashad Webster finished 1 for 2 with a run scored, and Michael McNamara went 1 for 3. Emilio Abreu was 1 for 4 and Randy Norris went 1 for 5 with a run scored. Orlando Cannon also scored a run in the contest.

Winston-Salem State travels to UVA-Wise on Wednesday for a 5:00pm first pitch at Stallard Field in Wise, Virginia.