PETERSBURG, VA - The Winston-Salem State Rams defeated the Chowan Hawks twice on Saturday, to win the CIAA Baseball Championship on Saturday, 10-1 and 10-4.

In the first game, the WSSU Rams jumped on the Chowan pitcher early, as Ivan Acuna doubled to left field, scoring Randy Norris, as WSSU took a 1-0 lead.

The Rams added to their early lead in the third, When Randal Ortiz drove in Brandon Ford and Landon Steiner drove in Ivan Acuna, to give the Rams a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

Chowan answered with their only run in the fourth inning, when Harry Markotay hit a sac fly to allowing Marvin Harrell to score. 

In the fifth inning, WSSU opened it up more, by scoring three runs. Landon Steiner singled, scoring Emilio Abreu, while Willie McRae singled scoring Steiner. Randy Norris would double to left, allowing Michael McNamara to score, to give the Rams a 6-1 advantage.

WSSU added a run in the sixth, when Randal Ortiz singled down the right field line, allowing Ivan Acuna to score.

The Rams added another run in the eighth inning, when Emilio Abreu doubled down the left field line, scoring John Garcia.

In the ninth, Willie McRae singled scoring Landon Steiner, and Michael McNamara would score on a wild pitch to finish the games scoring, as the Rams took the important win to force a second game, 10-1.

Willie McRae went two for five with two runs batted in, Landon Steiner went two for four with two runs batted in and two runs scored, Randal Ortriz went one for four with two runs batted in and Ivan Acuna went one for four with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Randy Norris went three for six with a run scored and a run batted in and Emilio Abreu went two for three with a run scored and a run batted in. Michael McNamara went two for four with two runs scored, while Brandon Ford went one for six with a run scored and John Garcia also scored a run. Randy Norris, Ivan Acuna, Emilio Abreu and Michael McNamara each had doubles.

Jordan Carlton got the win in pitching a gem for the Rams, pitching a complete game, going nine innings, allowing just one run and four hits, while striking out eight.

In game two, the deciding game, the Rams broke the game open in the first inning, as Emilio Abreu singled scoring Brandon Ford, and Randal Ortiz doubled, scoring Ivan Acuna. Landon Steiner doubled scoring Emilio Abreu.

In the second inning, Emilio Abreu hit a three run home run, to push the Rams out in front 7-0.

The Chowan Hawks answered with three runs in the third inning, to cut into the Rams lead, 7-3.

In the fourth inning, WSSU added to their lead, as Randal Ortiz singled to left, scoring Brandon Ford and Landon Steiner singld to center, allowing Emilio Abreu to score.

WSSU scored another run in the fifth, when Ivan Acuna doubled to left field, scoring John Garcia.

Chowan added a run in the eighth inning, when Tyler Jones singled, scoring Robert Williams.

Kanoa Hironaka shut down the hawks the rest of the way, en route to the Rams becoming the 2017 CIAA Baseball Champions for the sixth time in seven years.

Emilio Abreu led the Rams, going three for five with four runs batted in and three runs scored, and Landon Steiner went two for four with three runs batted in. Randal Ortiz finished two for four with a run scored and two runs batted in. Ivan Acuna went three for five with two runs scored and one run batted in. Randy Norris went one for five and Brandon Ford went one for two three runs scored. Michael McNamara went one for four and John Garcia also scored a run. Ivan Acuna, Randal Ortiz and Landon Steiner each had a double, and Emilio Abreu had a home run.

Kanoa Hironaka go the win, pitching a complete game, allowing 10 hits and four runs, while striking out eight.