RALEIGH, NC – The Winston-Salem State Rams (26-21, 13-3 CIAA) put the finishing touches on the 2016 regular season in a big way when the team took an 11-1 road win over the Shaw Lady Bears (9-30, 4-12 CIAA), Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Rams finish the regular season with a 6-2 record in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division and in second place in the division standings.

The Rams took the win behind a great overall effort as the team totaled 11 runs on 11 hits while allowing just three hits to the Lady Bears. WSSU freshman designated player Mesha Jones led the way for the Rams with a two-for-three effort at the plate with a run scored and two RBI in the game. Sophomore catcher Melissa Carillo added a two-for-two batting effort with a run scored and two RBI as well.

The Rams struck early and often in the five-inning win with all 11 runs coming in just three of the five innings played. The Rams opened up the game with five first inning runs. Junior third base Mercedes Hargett kicked things off with an RBI single that scored junior pitcher Chyna Riley. Jones followed the effort with an RBI single that scored junior first base Katherine Zimmer. Junior outfielder idaysha Quinones hit a two-RBI double that scored Hargett and junior short stop Rebecca Demko. Carillo rounded out the inning when she hit an RBI single that scored Quinones and left the Rams on top, 5-0 after the first inning.

The Rams kept things going in the fourth inning when the team scored four runs. Jones hit an RBI double to score freshman outfielder Destiny Snipes, followed by an RBI double from freshman Tiarra Delaney that scored Jones in turn. Delaney would score on a passed ball while Carillo added another score on the play as well. The effort left the Rams on top, 9-0. The Rams closed out their scoring effort with a pair of fourth inning runs. Demko kicked things off with an RBI single that scored Snipes, followed by an RBI double from Carillo. After allowing a fourth inning run to the Lady Bears, the Rams closed out the day with the victory.

With the win, the Rams close out the 2016 regular season with a 26-21 overall record and a 13-3 record in CIAA play. The team also finishes the season in second place in the CIAA Southern Division. For more information on Rams softball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on towww.WSSURams.com.