JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — In the first game on Sunday, the WSSU Rams outlasted the Shippensburg Raiders 9-8, to moved into the regional semi finals against Mercyhurst.
Randy Norris had the big day, going two for five with a run scored and five runs batted in, while Ivan Acuna went three for four with three runs scored, and Emilio Abreu went two for three with a run batted in. Landon Steiner went one for four with two runs scored, and Matt Mauldin and Michael McNamara each went one for three with McNamara also picking up a run batted in.
Shippensburg jumped on the Rams quickly, scoring three first inning runs to put eh Rams on their heels.
The Raiders added another run in the second to jump out in front 4-0, before the Rmas could answer.
WSSU answered with a run in the second inning, when Randal Ortiz reached on a fielder’s choice and throwing error and Ivan Acuna would score.
Shippensburg would homer in the fourth to go out in front 5-1 before th Rams pulled it together and took the lead.
In the fourth, Emilio Abreu singled to center scoring Ivqan Acuna, and then Matt Mauldin bunt singled and Landon Steiner scored. The big blow come off the bat of Randy Norris who homered to the deepest part if the filed in center, scoring three runs to put the Rams out in front for good, 6-5.
After loading the bases in the eighth, Michael McNamara would be hit by a pitch, scoring a run, and Randy Norris would go to work once again, this time with a single to right center scoring two more runs to give the Rams a comfortable 9-5 lead.
The Raiders answered with three runs in the ninth to make the score close, but the Rams would come away with the win, 9-8.
Marcus McKoy picked up the win, while Landon Steiner got the save.
In the second game of the day, after a four hour rain delay, the Rams wasted no time in jumping on the Mercyhurst Lakers, when in the third inning Ivan Acuna reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, allowing John Garcia to come home. Emilio Abreu singled through the left side scoring Acuna, and Landon Steiner doubled to left center scoring Abreau to give the Rams a 3-0 advantage.
Mercyhurst answered with a Jimmy Latona home run to cut the lead to 3-1.
The score would remain 3-1 until the eighth when Randy Norris singled and advanced to second on a throwing error and Matt Mauldin scored, and Brandon Ford flew out to left field allowing Norris to come home to score to give the Rams a 5-1 lead.
WSSU would add one more run in the top of the ninth, when Matt Mauldin singled up the middle and Landon Steiner scored to push the Rams lead to 6-1.
Corbin Easter would shut down the Lakers in the ninth to secure the WSSU Rams win.
Landon Steiner finished three for three with a run scored and a run driven in, while Randy Norris went two for five with a run scored and a run batted in. Emilio Abreu also went two for five with a run scored and a run driven in. Matt Mauldin went one for three with a run scored and a run driven in, and Brandon Ford went one for three with a run batted in.
Seth Reeves got the win, while Corbin Easter picked up the save for WSSU.
The WSSU Rams will face West Chester on Monday afternoon for the regional final at 12 p.m.
Courtesy: WSSU Athletics
