Game 1 Final Stats (.pdf) | Game 2 Final Stats (.pdf)

ABILENE – For the first time ever, the Angelo State baseball team swept Lone Star Conference rival No. 30 Abilene Christian. The Rams did so with a pair of come-from-behind wins Saturday in Abilene as ASU took game one 8-4 and game two 16-8 to extend their winning streak to seven games. Angelo State's Zach Cohen lengthened a streak of his own as he pushed his hitting streak to 11 games with a base hit in each game.

The Rams (14-7, 11-7 LSC) capitalized on an Abilene Christian (12-8, 5-7 LSC) error in the top of the first which should have ended the inning, but instead extended the frame and led to a pair of runs for ASU. With two outs, Tate Allison singled to right. Joseph Leftridge hit a grounder to short, ACU's Sky Valenzuela fielded it cleanly and threw it wide to second trying to get Allison. The error put runners at first and second for Garrett Harris who roped a double down the leftfield line to give Angelo State a 2-0 lead.

Angelo State added another run on yet another ACU miscue in the third as Allison scored after reaching base on a single. Leftridge followed grounding to third and went all the way to third on a throwing error by the Wildcats' Duncan Blades. Allison scored on the error to put the Rams up by three (3-0).

In the bottom half of the frame, the Wildcats' bats came to life as they scored a pair of runs on a trio of doubles to cut Angelo State's lead to one (3-2). Abilene Christian wasn't done yet, as the Wildcats continued their offensive tear in the third as they led off the inning with a double and a single which ended ASU starter Matt Rechkemmer's night. Right-hander James Conlee (3-0) came on in relief and surrendered a sacrifice fly and single, which put ACU up 4-3.

Trailing by one heading into the final inning of play, the Rams put up five runs in the top of the seventh sparked by Zach Cohen's lead-off single to center to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Designated hitter Travis Lites followed with a single and Allison drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Leftridge tied the game with a single through the right side which plated Cohen. Harris stepped up to the plate, again with bases loaded and no one out, and ripped a single back up the middle scoring Lites and Allison to put the Rams up by two (6-4). Leonhardt shot a base hit up the middle scoring Leftridge and Harris to give the Rams an 8-4 lead.

Conlee collected his third win of the season after scattering five hits in 4.0 innings of work and not allowing a run. Abilene Christian starter Zach Sneed (2-1) absorbed the loss after pitching 6.0+ innings and allowing five runs, two of which were earned, on seven hits and fanning five.

The Wildcats were bound and determined not to get swept as they quickly got on the board in the bottom of the first in game two. ACU exploded for four runs in the third to extend its lead to five (5-0).

Angelo State, however, would not go quietly. The Rams put together a two-out rally as Harris got the momentum going with a single to left then stole second. Leonhardt roped his 10^th double of the season driving in Harris and shortstop Brent Denny singled to center which plated Leonhardt cutting the Wildcats' lead to two (5-3).

Abilene Christian added another run in the fourth (6-3), but Angelo State continued to chip away at ACU's lead and evened the score at six after notching three runs in the fifth. The Wildcats again took a two-run lead (8-6) in the bottom of the frame taking advantage of an ASU miscue. Redshirt junior Craig Blair (1-1) was called to the mound to relieve ASU starter Rick Reyna who finished the game going 4.2 innings and allowing eight runs, six earned, on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts.

The Rams tacked on another run in the sixth to pull within one; then took their first lead of the ballgame in the top of the seventh. Denny reached base after getting hit by a pitch with one out, and third baseman Marcellous Biggins doubled to right putting a pair of runners in scoring position for catcher Toby Semler who drilled a triple to deep center field to clear the bases and crossed the plate on a Lites' sacrifice fly (10-8).

Despite putting up 10 runs in the game, the Rams weren't done scoring. Angelo State batted around in the eighth inning and scored six runs in the frame to take a commanding 16-8 advantage into the ninth.

ACU's Kevin Justice (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs, all earned, on four hits in 2.0 innings of work.

Up next for the Rams is a non-conference doubleheader versus Henderson State Tuesday, March 15, at 3 p.m., at LaGrave Field in Fort Worth.

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