SALISBURY, NC – The Catawba College Indians started quickly and had the Rams fighting from behind, as the Indians used two big innings to run past the Rams 13-7 at Newman Park in Salisbury, NC.

With the loss, WSSU falls to 27-14, while the #15 Catawba Indians move to 31-12.

Catawba jumped out quick on the Rams when Chance Bowden hit a two run home run in the bottom of the first to give the Indians a 2-0 lead.

The WSSU answered with a five run fourth, starting with a grand slam home run off the bat of Randal Ortiz, allowing Ivan Acuna, Emilio Abreu and Landon Steiner to score. John Garcia followed the grand slam with a solo home run to left, to give the Rams a 5-2 advantage.

The Catawba Indian took control with a four run fifth inning, scoring four run on four hits and one WSSU error. They would salt the game away with a seven run sixth inning, scoring seven runs on five hits.

Winston-Salem State would get one run back in the seventh on a solo home run from Ivan Acuna to left field.

WSSU added another run in the ninth inning, when Ivan Acuna would hit his second home run of the night.

Randal Ortiz went 1 for 3 with a run scored and four runs batted in, while Ivan Acuna went 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. John Garcia finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Landon Steiner 2ent three for five with a run scored and Randy Norris went two for five.  Emilio Abreu went one for five with a run scored, and Brandon Ford went one for five. Michael McNamara finished one for four. Landon Steiner and John Garcia each had a double, and Ivan Acuna hit two home runs, while Randal Ortiz had a grand slam and John Garcia also had a home run.

Jordan Carlton took the loss for the Rams, pitching 4.2 innings allowing 10 hits and six runs, while striking out seven.  Marcus McKoy, James Martin, Landon Biggs, Corbin Easter, and Garrison Roy also saw action out of the bullpen.

WSSU will be in action with four games at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, NC this weekend, facing the St. Augustine's Falcons.