ERIE, PA – Winston-Salem State’s season came to a stunning end on Sunday, in the NCAA Atlantic Regional, as the Rams dropped a heartbreaking 6-5 decision to Millersville.
With the loss, WSSU falls to 42-15, while Millersville improves to 45-10.
Winston-Salem State got on the scoreboard first, when in the third inning they were able to plate two runs on two hits with help of one Millersville error.
Taylor Idol started the inning with a walk, followed by another by Des Roberts. Gavin Culler bunt singled, and Idol would be brought home on a sacrifice fly from Colby Keene. Connor Andrus would single home Des Roberts, giving WSSU an early 2-0 advantage.
The Millersville Marauders would answer with a run of their own in the fourth inning to cut into the WSSU lead at 2-1.
WSSU would add another run in the top of the sixth inning, when a Jacob Barber single would bring home Connor Andrus, pushing the Rams lead to 3-1.
Millersville would answer back with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth, on three hits to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the final innings.
And like they had done all season, the WSSU Rams continued to scratch and claw, and a Nathan Steger two run single in the seventh inning gave the Rams the lead back at 5-3.
But the Marauders would once again answer the call, and they would also score twice on three hits in the bottom half of the inning setting up the dramatic ending.
In the eighth inning, Millersville threatened but Jordan Cummings pitching got the Rams out of the inning.
Winston-Salem State, however, could not muster any offense in the ninth inning, and headed to the bottom half still tied at 5-5.
Millersville would string together a couple of hits in the ninth inning, but a great play from outfielder, Gavin Culler to throw out a Marauder runner at the plate kept the game tied and the Rams hopes alive.
But a Millersville single up the middle plated a run to give the Marauders a 6-5 walk off win, bringing the WSSU season to a dramatic end.
Connor Andrus finished 3 for 5 with a run scored and a run batted in, while Nathan Steger went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.
Colby Keene went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Jacob Barber went 1 for 3 with a run batted in, and Des Roberts went 1 for 3 with a run scored. Gavin Culler finished 1 for 4 with a run scored. Taylor Idol also scored a run for the Rams.
Devin McLemore went 5.2 innings for WSSU before leaving with an injury, giving up three runs on three hits with six walks and four strikeouts.
Tyler Scearce went 0.1 inning, allowing one run on two hits with a walk. Eric Corlett allowed four hits, and one run and Jordan Cummings went 1.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits with a strikeout, picking up the loss.
The 42 wins by WSSU in 2015 are the most in school history, and the Rams advancing to within 2 wins of the NCAA DII College World Series is the furthest a CIAA baseball team has ever gone.
