WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Winston-Salem State University split a double header with the Virginia State Trojans on Sunday, April 3, dropping game one 4-3, before bouncing back with a 5-2 win in the nightcap.

With the split on Sunday, WSSU improves to 16-16 overall and 5-3 in the CIAA. Virginia State improves to 3-22 overall and 2-5 in the CIAA.

In game one, WSSU got on the board first when Phillip Page scored off of a wild pitch in the third inning, giving the Rams the early 1-0 lead.

Virginia State answered in their half of the third, and added two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth inning to jump out in front 4-1

Winston-Salem State tried to mount a comeback in the seventh, as Randy Norris doubled, followed by a Phillip Page single. Orlando Cannon brought home Norris on a single, and Page would come home on a Baytop single, but the rally would come up short, as the Rams dropped the first game 4-3. Offensively, Randy Norris finished game one going 2 for 3 with a run scored and a double, and Phillip Page went 1 for 2 with two runs scored. Orlando Cannon went 1 for 2 with a run batted in, while Landon Seiner and Ivan Acuna each went 1 for 3. Jason Baytop finished 1 for 4.

Tyler Scearce took the loss for the Rams, going 4.1 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits, while walking two and striking out five.

In game two, the Rams once again scored first, this time in the first inning, when Nathan Steger singled home Jason Baytop to give WSSU a 1-0 advantage.

WSSU scored again in the second inning, this time Nathan Steger came through again at the plate, singling home Jason Baytop to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.

Virginia State scored in the fourth inning to cut the Rams lead in half at 2-1.

Winston-Salem State would give themselves some breathing room in the sixth, as Emilio Abreu got things started with a RBI single, scoring Willie McRae. After a Nathan Steger single and Landon Steiner was hit by a pitch, the Rams got a big hit from Randy Norris who tripled, scoring both Steger and Steiner, to give WSSU a 5-1 lead.

Virginia State would add one run in the seventh, but could not overcome the Rams lead, as WSSU would take game two, 5-2.

Nathan Steger went 3 for 4 with a run scored and two runs batted in, while Randy Norris finished 2 for 4 with a triple and two runs batted in. Emilio Abreu went 2 for 3 with a run bat-ted in. Ivan Acuna was 2 for 2 and Phillip Page went 1 for 3. Landon Steiner went 1 for 3 with a run scored and Jason Baytop finished 1 for 4 with two runs scored. Willie McRae also scored a run for the Rams.

Jordan Cummings picked up the win in relief for WSSU, pitching the final three innings, allowing one run and three hits, while striking out three. Sam Burton went the first 4.0 innings, giving up just one run on five hits, while striking out one and walking three.