Winston-Salem State squanders 4-run lead in playoff opener

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  All season the Winston-Salem State Rams have been good at holding leads but on Thursday afternoon in the Atlantic Region first-round game it didn’t happen.

Fifth-seeded East Stroudsburg rallied from a four-run deficit to upset the second-seeded Rams 8-6 in 10 innings in front of about 100 at Wake Forest Ballpark.

The Rams, ranked No. 23 in Division II, seemingly had a comfortable 6-2 lead after seven innings. Riding the solid pitching of starter Tyler Hickernell the Rams looked like they were on their way to the winner’s bracket.

The Warriors (34-16) had other ideas as they won their fifth in a row and did so in dramatic fashion. Middle relievers John Markley and Michael Drye of the Rams struggled in the eighth and the Warriors scored four runs to tie the game at 6.

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