Winston-Salem State Tops Virginia State for the 2014 CIAA Baseball Championship

Winston-Salem State University Rams wins their fourth consecutive title.
Photo Courtesy: WSSU Athletics

ETTRICK, Virginia  -- The Rams of Winston-Salem State University are the CIAA Baseball Champions for the fourth consecutive season after a 9-5 victory against Virginia State University in the championship game held on Saturday, April 19^th at Whaley Colbert Field on the campus of VSU.

With the win, WSSU improves their overall record to 33-14 and will await their seeding for the 2014
NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament with today's automatic berth.

The Rams held a lead in this contest from wire to wire. Despite location and based on tournament seeding, Virginia State was the visiting team in the game and batted first. In the top of the first, the Trojans produced one hit, but failed to score a run in the inning.

WSSU delivered one run along with a hit in the bottom of the first, starting with Gavin Culler, who headed to first base after being hit by a pitch. CIAA Player of the Year, Ray Crawford, followed up with a single to center field, advancing Culler to second. An error by the third baseman put Colby Keene on first and brought home Culler for the initial score of the contest. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Rams until the bottom of the fourth.

In the fourth, Winston-Salem State exploded with seven hits and six runs to expand their lead to 7-0. VSU allowed an additional run in the sixth inning. Crawford smacked a RBI double in bottom of the sixth to bring Culler for a score. The Trojans trailed 8-0 and were held scoreless until the top of seventh.

In the top of the seventh, an error in right field by Crawford opened the door for a VSU comeback. Tyshaun Taylor loaded the bases after the error in right field. Colton Gunn crossed home plate off a fielder's choice from Jamison Griffin. Nicholas Christopher hit a RBI double to score Griffin two batters later. Tyler Coleman scored off an errant throw at third base. Christopher eventually came home for the fourth and final run of the inning.

Neither team scored again until the bottom of the eighth. The Rams put up two hits and one run in the eighth, including a RBI single by Colby Keene. Heading into the ninth inning, the score was 9-4 in favor of the Rams. VSU made their last attempt at a rally with two hits and one run in the ninth.

Zachery Jordan singled to right field for a run batted in (RBI) to score James Goodwin from third.
However, that would be the last run scored as Joshua Markins grounded out to second base to close the game. Scott Wells was charged with the victory on the mound for WSSU. He pitched eight innings, including six scoreless innings. Wells finished with eight hits and four runs allowed (all unearned) along with three strikeouts.

Ray Crawford adds Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team honors to his list of season accolades.

Winston-Salem State still has two regular season games remaining, as tune ups for the NCAA Regional. The Rams will travel to Milledgeville, GA on Tuesday for a matchup with West Georgia, before returning home on Friday to take on Bluefield State.

A complete list of the 2014 CIAA All-Tournament Team is below:

2014 CIAA Baseball All-Tournament Team
Colton Gunn - Third Base/Pitcher - Virginia State
Nicholas Christopher - Utility - Virginia State
Alex Grubb - Designated Hitter - Winston-Salem State
Jeremy Sandifer - Pitcher - Saint Augustine's
Colby Wiggins - Short Stop - Chowan
Tashaun Taylor - Outfield - Virginia State
Blake Eure - Second Base - Chowan
Devin McLemore - First Base - Winston-Salem State
Conner Andrus - Catcher - Winston-Salem State
Ray Crawford - Outfield - Winston-Salem State
David Markins - Catcher - Virginia State
Scott Wells - Pitcher - Winston-Salem State

 

2014 CIAA Baseball Tournament MVP
Ray Crawford - Outfield - Winston-Salem State

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PVAMU Marching Storm & Black Foxes 2013/2014 Highlights

Woodward to host 2014 SIAC Golf Champoinships

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today announced that the 2014 SIAC Golf Championships will be held from April 21-23 at Woodward Golf & Country Club.

"It is with great pleasure that we bring the 2014 SIAC Golf Championships to Woodward Golf & Country Club," said SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore. "We look forward to having a great tournament as we continue to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the SIAC."

Established in 1916, Woodward Golf & Country Club is a private, 18-hole, Par 71 course which features 6,552 yards of golf on Bermuda grass. Located in Bessemer, Alabama, the course was designed by Ward Nothrup.

"Woodward Golf & Country Club is excited to host the 2014 SIAC Golf Championships," said Martha Hudson, Woodward's Head Golf Professional. " Woodward has been a supporter of amateur golf and continues to promote and grow the game for players of all ages."

All three rounds of the three-day championships will begin at 8:00 a.m. (CT). General admission is free to the public.

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Toppings: We (ASU) just have to be more aggressive'

PHOTO COURTESY: ASU ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  The Alabama State offense struggled through many of the 15 spring practices, but the recent Black and Gold Game isn't indicative of what fans will see this fall, head coach Reggie Barlow and his players insisted.

Clearly, the loss of starting quarterback Daniel Duhart was a big blow for the spring game. Backup Quinteris Toppings struggled with the passing game, but that should be expected from a guy who was thrust into action in one game last season because of injuries.

And if you're using the Black and Gold Game as a gauge, keep in mind the third-string quarterback, Sir Jackson, had been moved to receiver and the fourth-string quarterback, a walk-on named Dashawn Blow, wasn't even on campus this time a year ago.

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Miss FAMU Nicole Bowden for Ebony HBCU Campus Queens

Campus Queens 2014

HERE COME THE EBONY HBCU CAMPUS QUEENS! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE.

We are pleased to announce EBONY's annual HBCU Campus Queens online competition. The reigning beauties from Historically Black Colleges and Universities from around the country are featured here and awaiting your votes. The Top 10 vote getters will grace the pages of the September 2014 issue of EBONY magazine. Read all about these campus winners, view their videos and cast your votes for your favorite Queen, listed alphabetically below. Campus Queen voting is sponsored by Nielsen.

READ MORE at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/campusqueens#ixzz2zOgz442Z
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Orange Nips Green 30-27 In FAMU Orange & Green Game

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  A late surge from the offense despite misty conditions Saturday at Bragg Stadium pushed the Orange team past the Green team, 30-27 in the annual FAMU Spring Football Game.

 

Saturday’s format pitted the offense (Orange) against the defense (Green), and based on some early domination by the defensive front, the Green grabbed a 21-6 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Orange team found its’ balance, loosening the Green unit with a variety of runners to fuel a ground attack, that opened the passing game.

The backfield trio of Woodly Oralus (77 yards on nine carries), Omari Albert (60 yards on eight carries) and Willie Thomas (50 yards on eight carries) led a ground game that rolled up close to 200 yards.

Quarterbacks Carson Royal and Brian Blackburn, along with Shazzan Mumphrey all took their lumps early against the Green pass rush, but once the ground game got going in the second half, they had time to find open receivers. 

Royal, who started several games down the stretch last season, finished six of 11 passing for 115 yards and one TD, while Blackburn was six of 10 passing for 94 yards and two TDs. 

Receiving leaders Saturday featured wideout Casey Glines, who had three catches for 41 yards, and one TD, a five-yard pass from Royal; tight end Desmond Noird, who had four catches for 36 yards, and one TD, a 21 yards strike from Blackburn; and receiver Montavious Williams, who had three catches for 69 yards, one TD, a 35-yard aerial from Blackburn. 

ORANGE AND GREEN MOMENTS: The fans in attendance at Bragg were treated to a halftime touch football game between a bevy of former players from the 1980s and 1990s… Near the game’s end, new FAMU President Elmira Mangum walked the sidelines on the West Side of the stadium to warm applause…. A small contingent of the Marching 100 Band entertained fans gathered under cloudy skies, which briefly gave way to a chilly mist. 

 

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Highlights and recap of Prairie View A&M's 2014 spring football game

COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION