WISE, VA – WSSU swung hot bats, and coming through in the clutch, as the Rams outlasted the UVA-Wise Cavalier, 11-7, Wednesday night in Wise, Virginia.

The win moves the Rams 19-18 on the season, while the Cavalier fall to 15-18 on the year.

UVA-Wise struck first, with a run in the bottom of the first inning to take the early 1-0 advantage.

Winston-Salem State had an answer and then some, as the Rams exploded for six runs in the second inning. WSSU led off the inning with back to back home runs from Ivan Acuna and Randy Norris, and then Willie McRae picked up an rbi with a single to centerfield that scored Michael McNamara. Jason Baytop reached on an error from the shortstop, allowing Orlando Cannon to score. Landon Steiner would come through with a big hit, a single to cneter that scored Willie McRFae and Jason Baytop.

The Rams would add to their lead in the third, when Emilio Abreu lined a pitch down the left field line, scoring Michael McNamara and Willie McRae, to give WSSU a commanding 8-1 lead.

The Cavaliers would chip into the WSSU lead in the sixth inning, as UVA-Wise would be able to scored two runs on one hit and helped by two WSSU errors, to cut the lead to 8-3.

Once again WSSU had an answer in the seventh, as Willie McRae singled to left scoring Orlando Cannon to push the Rams lead back to 9-3.

UVA-Wise would battle back with a big three run bottom half of the seventh to pull within three, at 9-6.

But the WSSU Rams would put the game away with two runs in the ninth, from the bat of Jason Baytop, who single to right center scored Randy Norris and Rashad Webster.

Jordan Cummings would allow one run in the ninth, but struck out the last batter to preserve another win for the WSSU, 11-7.

Sam Burton picked up the win for WSSU, going 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Austin Cole pitched an inning in relief, giving up three runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Garrison Roy threw 0.1 innings, allowing three hits while striking out one. Jordan Cummings pitched the final 2.0 innings to pick up the save. Cummings allowed one run on one hit with one walk and four strikeouts.

Jason Baytop drove in three runs, while going 3 for 6, and also scored a run. Willie McRae finished 3 for 4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored, while Emilio Abreu went 2 for 5 with two runs batted in. Landon Steiner went 1 for 4 with two runs batted in and Ivan Acuna and Randy Norris went 2 for 5 with one run batted in each. Acuna scored one run and Norris scored twice. Michael McNamara went 1 for 3 with two runs scored and Rashad Webster scored one run.