WSSU baseball team wins tourney opener

PETERSBURG, Virginia — Winston-Salem State, the two-defending CIAA champion, defeated Chowan 8-3 on Thursday in the first round of the CIAA baseball tournament at Whaley Colbert Field.

The Rams (35-9) will play Virginia State on Friday in a winner’s-bracket game in the double-elimination format.

Coach Kevin Ritsche, who was named coach of the year in the CIAA on Thursday, won his 100th career game. Ritsche is 100-65 in his three seasons with the Rams.

The Rams had 11 hits, led by Rafael Gonzalez, who went 3 for 5. Travis Moore and Paco Martin each had two hits.

Conner Andrus and Levi Grassley each had two RBIs for the Rams, who trailed 1-0 but scored two in the second inning to take the lead for good.

Freshman Jordan Carlton went ...

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