Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 WINSTON-SALEM, NC – In game one, the WSSU Rams fell behind early but never gave in, and battled all the way back to take the game 11-7.
With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 4-8, while the Griffins of Seton Hill fall to 0-1 on the season.
The Griffins jumped on the Rams early, scoring four runs in the first and another in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Seton Hill would maintain that lead until the fifth inning when the Rams were able to get back in the game with a three run inning.
WSSU would break the game open In the eighth, when Michael McNamara hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Emilio Abreu, and then Matt Mauldin singled to center scoring Garcia.
Randy Norris doubled to right center field, scoring both McRae and Mauldin, giving the Rams a commanding 11-7 lead heading into the Griffins final at-bat.
The Rams would slam the door on Seton Hill in the ninth, giving the WSSU Rams the 11-7 win.
In the fifth inning the Rams started chipping away at the Griffins lead, Ivan Acuna walked to start the inning, and Emilio Abreu also walked. Randal Ortiz doubled and advanced to third on an error by the center fielder, scoring both Acuna and Abreu. Randal Ortiz scored late in the inning when Willie McRae reached on a fielder's choice, giving WSSU a 6-5 lead.
In the sixth inning, Brandon Ford tripled and eventually would score when John Garcia single through the shortstop.
For the Rams, Randy Norris went 3 for 6 with three runs batted in and Randal Ortiz went 2 for 4 with two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Willie McRae went 1 for 3 with a run scored and two runs batted in and Brandon Ford went 2 for 5 with a run scored. Ivan Acuna went 0 for 4 with a run scored while Emilio Abreu went 1 for 3 with two runs scored. John Garcia went 1 for 2 with two runs scored and one run batted in. Matt Mauldin went 2 for 5 with two runs batted in and a run scored and Michael McNamara went 1 for 2 with a run scored and a run batted in.
In game number two, Seton Hill pounded on the ball in the first inning, scoring four runs and putting the Rams on their heels.
WSSU answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to cut into the Griffins lead.
The score would remain 5-2 until the fifth inning, when the WSSU Rams would manage to get run to cross the plate. John Garcia would score, cutting the Griffins lead to 5-3.
Seton Hill would add another run in the sixth inning to run out in front, 6-2, heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Winston-Salem State would get a double down the left field line from Ivan Acuna, that would score Randy Norris and Brandon Ford, who reach on a pair of singles, cutting the Seton Hill advantage to 6-4. Emilio Abreu would eventually single to score Acuna, and tying the game at 6-6.
Seton Hill would get a run in the top of the seventh inning, when the batter hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score the run and move back out in front 7-6.
Although the Rams would threaten, they would not be able to push a run across and lost the contest, 7-6.
For the Rams, Randy Norris had another big game, finishing 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Brandon Ford finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Ivan Acuna went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in and Emilio Abreu went 1 for 3 with a run batted in. John Garcia went 1 for 3 with a run scored, while Randal Ortiz went 1 for 2, and Michael McNamara and Willie McRae went 1 for 4.
