ERIE, Pennsylvania – The #21 Winston-Salem State Rams broke out the big bats and hit four home runs, while the pitching held West Chester in check, striking out eight Golden Rams on the day, as WSSU cruised to a 9-4 win on Friday in the NCAA Atlantic Regional at Jerry Uht Park, in Erie, Pa.WSSU jumped on the board first in a big way, when in the bottom of the third inning, the Rams would explode for five runs. Jacob Barber led off with a single, and Taylor Idol would later walk. After Des Roberts reached on a fielder's choice, Gavin Culler singled to center field scoring Barber and Roberts. After a Colby Keene single, Connor Andrus would hit a mammoth home run to left field to give the Rams a 5-0 advantage.
West Chester would chip into the WSSU lead with one run in the fourth and one in the sixth to pull closer, but the Winston-Salem State bats were too hot on this night.
After a Nathan Steger walk, Jacob Barber would launch a two run home run to deep left, followed by a solo home run from Alex Grubb to give WSSU a 8-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.
The Golden Rams of West Chester got one back with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, but once again the Winston-Salem State bats would answer.
In the bottom of the eighth, Alex Grubb would hit his second home run of the night, a towering shot to right center to give WSSU a 9-3 lead heading into the ninth.
West Chester would manage to get one more run across the plate on a solo home run to left center field, but Devin McLemore would settle down and retire the side for the WSSU Rams win.
Freshman, Tyler Scearce picked up the win, going an impressive 6.2 innings, allowing two runs, four hits and three walks while striking out five Golden Rams.Eric Corlett came on in relief and pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one run, one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Devin McLemore closed out the game for WSSU, pitching the final innings, allowing one run on one hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The WSSU Rams were led at the plate by Alex Grubb, who went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, two runs batted in, including two solo home runs on the day. Jacob Barber also went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, including a two run home run. Gavin Culler continues to swing a hot bat in the postseason, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Connor Andrus finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and three runs batted in, including a 3 run home run. Colby Keene went 1 for 3 with a run scored, and Des Roberts also scored a run.
The WSSU Rams remain the only undefeated team in the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
WSSU will take on the winner of the 12:00pm game that features #5 West Chester vs. #1 Mercyhurst. Winston-Salem State will play this game at 7:00pm at Jerry Uht Park.
On Thursday, the Atlantic Region #4 seed, used a solid pitching performance, and got big hits from Gavin Culler and Colby Keene, as the Rams rolled to a 5-2 win over #11 and #3 seed, Seton Hill on Thursday evening in the opening round of the NCAA DII Regionals.
With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 41-13, while the Seton Hill Griffins fall to 42-12.
The Winston-Salem State Rams go going early, as Des Roberts and Gavin Culler both reach with singles in the first inning, and Roberts was brought home on a Connor Andrus single to right field, to give WSSU an early 1-0 lead.
Seton Hill looked to get right back in the game in their first at-bat, but a double play from Nathan Steger to Taylor Idol to Jacob Barber ended any threat.
The Rams added two more runs in the seventh inning, as Jacob Barber singled to open the inning, and Taylor idol reached on a throwing error by the Seton Hill third baseman, moving the runners to second and third with no outs. After Des Roberts reached on a fielder's choice, Gavin Culler came through with single through the right side that would score Barber. Colby Keene would single through the left side scoring Roberts, and giving the WSSU Rams a 3-0 lead.
Seton Hill would manage to plate one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but once again Hayden O'Neal, on in relief for Sam Burton, shut down the Griffins with just the one run.
WSSU would add two more important insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Des Roberts would walk and steal second base. And once again, Gavin Culler would come up big with a double to left center field, scoring Roberts. Colby Keene would add another rbi to his total, as he would single in Gavin Culler before being thrown out at first to give WSSU a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Griffins would add one run, but Jordan Cummings would induce a routine groundout by one of the nation's top hitters in Nick Sell, to second base for the WSSU Rams 5-2 win.
The WSSU win is their first win in an opening round game, and head coach Kevin Ritsche called the game "the biggest in school history". It is the Ram third win in a NCAA Regional game.
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