WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- The Winston-Salem State University swept the Lincoln University on Sunday afternoon, 5-4 and 11-3, to clinch the CIAA Baseball Regular Season Crown heading into Spring Championship Week in Petersburg, VA.In game one, The Rams used a big third inning to hold off the Lions 5-4.
Leland Clemmons walked to lead off eh game and advanced on an Anthony Nutall ground out. Ray Crawford would bring home Clemmons on a single to give WSSU the early 1-0 advantage.
Lincoln University would bounce back to tie the game in the bottom half of the second inning, as they were able to take advantage of a WSSU fielding error to plate a run and make the score 1-1.
In the top of the third inning, Levi Grassley singled to start the inning, followed by an Eddie Araujo walk. Leland Clemmons would advance the runners on a sacrifice to the pitcher before Anthony Nutall would send a deep fly ball to center field to bring home Grassley on a sacrifice fly. After a Ray Crawford walk, Conner Andrus singled to bring home Araujo, and Colby Keene would single to bring in Crawford to give the Rams a 4-1 lead.
The lions continued to fight and would once again take advantage of a WSSU fielding error and would bring home two runs in the bottom of the third, and would score again in the bottom half of the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4 heading into the late innings.
But the Rams would put the game away in the top of the sixth inning when Conner Andrus led off with a single and would move over on a Colby Keene ground out. Rafael Gonzalez would single home Andrus to give WSSU the 5-4 lead, that they would hold on to, to take the win.
Conner Andrus went two for four at the plate for the Rams, scoring one run and also picking up a run batted in. Ray Crawford finished one for three with one run scored and one run batted in, while Levi Grassley also finished one for three with a run scored. Colby Keene went one for two with a run batted in and Rafael Gonzalez went one for three with a run batted in. Anthony Nutall also finished with a run batted in and Leland Clemmons and Eddie Araujo each scored a run.
Aaron Hatch picked up the complete game win for the Rams, going the full 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits and four runs, just two earned however. He walked one and struck out four in the outing.
In game two, Winston-Salem State scored early and often and put the game away by the second inning as the Rams rolled to an 11-3 win over The Lincoln University.
In the top of the first, Ray Crawford walked to start the game before he would eventually be brought home on a Leland Clemmons sacrifice fly to center field. Conner Andrus followed that at-bat with a solo home run to left field.
WSSU broke the game wide open in the top of the second as they would score five runs on three hits. After a Levi Grassley single, Rashad Webster and Anthony Nutall would draw a walks, before Leland Clemmons would come to the plate with two outs. Leland Clemmons would clear the bases with a grand slam home run, followed by a Conner Andrus double to give the Rams a 7-0 lead.
Ray Crawford would pick up two RBI's in the third inning and Levi Grassley one in the fourth to take a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Lincoln Lions would finally get on the board in the sixth inning when they scored three runs on three hits with one WSSU error.
The final nail in the coffin would be supplied by Rafael Gonzalez whose single to center field scored Eddie Araujo to give the Rams the victory with a final of 11-3.
Leland Clemmons led the Rams hitting attack, gong a perfect two for two at the plate, with two runs scored and a game high five runs batted in. He also homered in the game. Levin Grassley went three for five with a run batted in and Conner Andrus went two for the with a run scored and a home run.
Rafael Gonzalez finished two for five with a run batted in and Ray Crawford scored three runs and also finished with two runs batted in. Anthony Nutall went one for three with a runs cored and Rashad Webster went one for two with two runs scored. Alex Grubb picked up a hit and Aaron Hatch scored a run and also had a run batted in.
Jordan Carlton picked up the win for WSSU, going 5.1 innings, while allowing six hits and two earned runs, while striking out a season high 11 batters and walking three. Devin McLemore pitched the final 1.2 innings, striking out three batters.
The Rams will now head to Petersburg, VA for the CIAA Baseball Championships this week, which are a part of the CIAA Spring Sports Festival.
Box Score
COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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