Lady Rams Take Heartbreaking 8-7 Extra Inning Loss at Norfolk State Trevin Q. Goodwin 05/08/10 WSSU pushes Lady Spartans to the limit, but fall short in tough loss NORFOLK, VA – The Winston-Salem State Lady Rams (8-36) gave it their all, but fell short in a heartbreaking 8-7 loss at Norfolk State (13-27), Saturday afternoon. Both teams gave their all in the game with the two teams going 11 innings in the game. In the end, it was a WSSU throwing error that allowed the winning run to score in the loss. The Lady Rams had a strong day in the loss with eight team hits in the game while holding the Lady Spartans to just six hits. However, the Lady Rams had their struggles with three fielding errors, including the costly 11th-inning error that cost the team the game. Freshman first baseman Artreya Jernigan had a breakout effort in the game with a career-best three hits and recording her first career home run, a ninth-inning grand slam. The game was a hard-fought affair with both teams scoring clutch runs. The two teams took a 1-1 tie into extra innings. The Lady Rams struck first when junior outfielder Candace Spinks hit an RBI ground out to the pitcher to score senior Whitney Hall. The Lady Spartans would strike back, however, when a WSSU throwing error allowed the Lady Spartans to score and tie the game 1-1. The two teams would carry the tie into extra innings until the eighth inning when Woodbury hit an RBI double to put the Lady Rams ahead 2-1, but the Lady Spartans responded with an RBI sacrifice fly. It was Jernigan would answer the call for the Lady Rams with a ninth-inning grand slam home run, but once again, the Lady Spartans answered back with four run in the bottom of the ninth-inning. Both teams matched each other in the 10th inning with one run each as well, setting the stage for the dramatic 11th inning when a WSSU throwing error allowed the game-winning run. The game featured a stellar pitching performance by freshman Brittany Lane (6-17) who pitched all 11 innings with eight strikeouts and just two walks. She also allowed just three earned runs in the game. The Lady Rams and Lady Spartans would meet up to close the doubleheader later in the day. The Lady Rams will close out the 2010 softball season when they face the Lady Spartans in a single game tomorrow at noon.