Box Score  

Winston-Salem, N.C.----The Winston-Salem State University Rams jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning Wednesday night, then fended off a pair of Wingate rallies to hang on for a 6-5 victory in NCAA Division II baseball action at BB&T Park. The Rams improve to 21-11 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 21-8 on the year.

Aaron Hatch drove in a pair of runs to lead the WSSU attack. Connor Andrus had an RBI and a run scored for the Rams, while Leland Clemmons was one-for-three with a run scored, drawing a pair of walks.

Junior first baseman Brad Cherry (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) had a double, RBI and run scored to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman infielder Shane Billings (Kernersville, N.C.) and senior outfielder Eric Serra (Miami, Fla.) each added three hits and a run scored, while junior catcher Tyler Simmons (Charlotte, N.C.) added a hit and an RBI for the Bulldogs.

The Rams jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Andrus drove home the first run with an RBI single. The second run scored on a passed ball, while a bases-loaded walk made it 3-0.

Wingate got on the board in the fourth when Cherry ripped a one-out double in the left center field gap, then scored on an RBI single from Simmons.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fifth thanks to a pair of singles and a walk. Cherry and junior infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) drew bases-loaded walks to tie the game at three.

WSSU scored two runs in the bottom of the frame without a hit. Two walks and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with two outs. A Wingate error allowed both runs to score, putting the Rams on top 5-3.

Wingate loaded the bases again in the sixth, with a Thomas Spitz (West Chester, Pa.) sacrifice fly cutting the lead to one. Clark followed with an RBI groundout to make it 5-5.

Winston-Salem State answered with a run in the eighth to regain the lead. Clemmons led off the frame with a single, stole second, went to third on another single, then scored on a wild pitch.

Eric Corlett got the win, moving to 5-1 on the year. He allowed two runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out four. Freshman right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 2-1. He allowed a run on two hits in one inning of work. Senior right-hander Ryne Poplin (Norwood, N.C.) went four innings without allowing an earned run, giving up just three hits while striking out four.

The Bulldogs are back in action Friday, opening a three-game SAC series against Catawba at 6 p.m.