PETERSBURG, VA – The Chowan University baseball team was eliminated from the 2011 CIAA Baseball Tournament following a marathon 18-12 loss to Winston-Salem State University on Friday, April 22^nd.  The Hawks, who were CIAA regular season champions, finish the 2011 season with a 30-16 record.  The Rams (29-18) advance to the championship round to face Saint Augustine's College.

All but five half innings saw scoring in the 3 hour, 34 minute rain-soaked game.  The Rams scored one run in the top of the first inning to grab the early lead.  They added five more in the top of the third to open up a 6-0 advantage.  Chowan responded with a run in the home half of the third to cut the deficit to 6-1.

Winston-Salem State tacked on three runs in the top of the fourth to make the score 9-1.  William Ward and Brandon Mack scored for the Hawks in the bottom of the fourth to bring the deficit back to six runs.

The fifth inning was a bit of an anomaly, as neither team scored.  WSSU posted three more runs in the top of the sixth to make the score 12-3.  Justin Bagbey drove in Brandon Mack in the home half of that inning.  Bagbey finished the game with four RBI to lead the Hawks.

Entering the bottom of the seventh, Chowan trailed 14-4.  That deficit was cut in half in the bottom of the seventh, however.  Five consecutive Hawk batters scored as Chowan tallied six hits.  Each team put up one run in the eighth to bring the count to 15-10.

The Rams plated three more runs in the top of the ninth.  The first two batters for Chowan scored in the bottom of the ninth, but their offense could not produce any more runs.

Justin Shockley went 3-5 at the plate and scored two runs.  He also drove in three runs.  Brandon Mack went 2-3 and scored three runs.

A total of 12 pitchers were used in the game.  The teams combined for 36 hits, 18 walks, and 26 runners left on base.