April 3, 2004
Winston-Salem, NC - Good teams find a way to win. That is exactly what the Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State University did on Saturday afternoon at Southpark Field as they defeated the Lady Broncos of Fayetteville State University in dramatic fashion by the score of 7-6 in the second game of an important CIAA softball doubleheader. The Lady Rams mounted a charge and came from behind as they scattered twelve hits and scored seven runs in the come-from-behind victory.
The first inning of play started off looking as though WSSU would fall behind early as Lady Bronco lead off hitter Ariel McNair used a double to center field and a passed ball to put herself in scoring position on third base with no outs. However, Starting pitcher Amber Nance retired the side without harm as she gunned out McNair at home on the very next play and struck out two more Lady Broncos to help WSSU escape the top-half of the first inning without harm.
The Lady Rams first real scoring opportunity came and went in the bottom of the second inning as WSSU was able to load the bases with only one out. WSSU starting pitcher Amber Nance started off the inning by walking and was thrown out at second after Toyia Vaughn grounded into a four to three fielder's choice. However, Tamika Ferguson walked and Jennifer Jones-Cockerham lined a single to center field to fill the bases. However, LeAndrea Suggs lined to the FSU short-stop and L'Tisha Bell grounded into a fielder's choice and the Lady Ram second-inning scoring threat vanished as the two teams remained scoreless headed into the third inning of play.
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FSU would crack into the scoring column in the very next inning as they used four hits, a pair of walks and two errors to score five runs and take the game's first lead. Tamicka Bethea scored after getting on base on a fielder's choice. A costly fielding error committed by WSSU center-fielder L'Tisha Bell gave Bethea an opportunity to score and advanced Ariel McNair to third base with only one out in the inning.
Amber Nance promptly loaded the bases after walking the second Lady Bronco batter of the inning and Rickita Mays made the Lady Rams pay as she drilled a double to deep center-field, driving in two runs in the process and pushing the FSU lead to 3-0. The Lady Bronco offense was not finished scoring as Erica Allen lined what looked to be a single to right field that batted in one Lady Bronco, but Allen advanced to second base on the throw home, and after the second WSSU error of the inning, this time on catcher Shannon Davis, made her way to third base. To Nance's credit, she would end the inning, and the FSU barrage on a pop-out, but not before Fayetteville State tagged the Lady Rams for five runs en route to the 5-0 lead after two and a half innings of play.
Nance and the Lady Rams would face another bases-loaded with one-out situation in the top of the fourth inning, but after hitting a batter and driving in a run that increased FSU's lead to 6-1, Amber Nance regained her control and retired the Lady Bronco side on three straight pop-outs. The Lady Rams mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom half of the fifth inning as they scored two runs to cut FSU's lead to 6-3, but left the bases loaded when the inning ended as they squandered a chance to tie the game.
The next time that the WSSU offense would get a chance, they delivered. The Lady Rams tied the game when Amber Nance drove home Curtina Barrett with a deep double to the center field fence. After chipping away at the lead, the Lady Ram offense finally awoke from their slumber as they looked to take the lead from FSU for the first time in the contest. The Ram offense sputtered a bit and the two teams would head to the seventh inning tied at 6-6.
The top of the seventh inning was exciting as FSU looked to gain back the lead. After a simple 1 to 3 ground out, Lady Bronco starting pitcher Rosa Graham ripped a triple to center field and tried to leg out an inside the park home run. However, she was gunned out at the plate from left field for the second out of the inning. A routine ground out ended the FSU scoring threat and WSSU looked towards the opportunity to win the game in their final at bats.
Jennifer Jones-Cockerham lined a single to short on the very first pitch of the inning and advanced to second on a poor throw by the FSU short stop. LeAndrea Suggs reached on what was to surely be a put-out, but excellent base running by Jones-Cockerham prevented an FSU defensive play as she threatened to advance to third on the throw, thus rendering Suggs safe. After two shallow pop-outs, it would all come down to WSSU catcher Shannon Davis. Both Ram runners advanced a base on a passed ball on the first offering to Davis and the Rams would have two runners in scoring position at second and third, with two outs. Davis lined the game-winning single to center field and propelled WSSU to victory by the score of 7-6 keeping WSSU flawless in the CIAA.
With the win the Lady Rams improve to 17-6 overall (14-0 CIAA) and 6-0 in the CIAA Western Division as they stay flawless in CIAA action. The Lady Broncos fall to 11-18 overall (10-6 CIAA) and 7-3 in the Western Division with the loss. Amber Nance picks up the win for WSSU and improves to 4-0 on the season. Earning the loss is FSU pitcher Rosa Graham who falls to 12-14 overall.
