Custom Search Petersburg, VA – On the third and final day of competition at the 2013 CIAA Spring Sports Festival, Winston-Salem State University defeated Chowan University 9-1 in the championship game to claim their third consecutive conference title at the Whaley Colbert Field on the campus of VSU. The Rams finished 3-0 during the tournament in order to hoist the championship plaque.
WSSU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with three runs in the first inning. Chowan went three up and three down in the top of the first. The Rams produced three hits and three runs in the bottom of the first, including a RBI double from Tyler Hickernell.
Both teams went scoreless in the second and third innings. The Hawks earned a run in the fourth off a RBI single from Evan Holton. The hit from Holton scored Brandon Mack from third base. The inning came to a close with one run, two hits, an error, and two left on base. Unfortunately, that would be the only run generated by Chowan in the contest.
Winston-Salem State responded with two runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth to secure a victory. Neither team scored after the sixth inning. First baseman Aaron Jones had clutch day at the plate for WSSU with four hits off five at-bats, three runs scored and a RBI.
Hickernell controlled the game on the mound and picked up the win. He pitched eight innings with five strikeouts, only allowing six hits and one run scored en route to being named Tournament MVP. Seth Mahaffey checked in for the save in the ninth. He struck out two, walked one, and had one ground out.
The Rams earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs and await the tournament seeding announcement for their opponent.
Here is a complete breakdown of the 2013 CIAA All-Tournament Baseball Team:
2013 CIAA Baseball All-Tournament Team
| NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL |
| Colton Gunn | Pitcher | Virginia State |
| Levi Grassley | Third Base | Winston-Salem State |
| Nicholas Christopher | Short Stop | Virginia State |
| Tyler Hickernell | Pitcher/DH | Winston-Salem State |
| John Hunter | First Base | Chowan |
| Aaron Jones | First Base | Winston-Salem State |
| Blake Leebrick | Catcher | Chowan |
| Percy Evans | First Base | Virginia State |
| Ryan Moore | Designated Hitter | Chowan |
| Evan Holton | Outfield | Chowan |
| Rafael Gonzalez | Second Base | Winston-Salem State |
| Josh Markins | Utility | Virginia State |
2013 CIAA Baseball Tournament MVP
Tyler Hickernell Pitcher/DH - Winston-Salem State