LUBBOCK, Texas – Angelo State jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, but couldn't stop or overcome an eight-run third inning by Texas Tech as the Rams fell 13-8 to the Red Raiders on Tuesday at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
 
Ryan Greer opened the game with a first-pitch triple for the Rams who would score three runs in the opening frame and take a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the third. Quaid McKinnon, Doug Snover and Brett Parsons each had runs batted in for Angelo State (23-10) in the first inning against the Rams' first Division I opponent since 2005. With the loss, ASU falls to 1-4 all-time against DI schools and to 0-2 against Texas Tech. 
 
“I thought our hitters' approaches were as good as they have been all year,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “We need to keep that up and we'll be in good shape as the season goes on. I think we used the game to get better at the plate and showed that we have the ability start games strong. Everything about the day was pretty good besides not winning.”
 
Texas Tech (17-13) scored eight runs on seven hits and an ASU error in the bottom of the third to come back from its early deficit to the Rams. The Red Raiders, who resume Big 12 action this weekend against the Texas Longhorns in Lubbock, had 15 hits against five different ASU pitchers and improved to 14-4 at home this season.
 
Jake Albert (0-2) claims the loss after coming into the game in the third inning for starter Matt Rechkemmer. Albert, who was making is 12th appearance and entered the game with a 1.45 ERA through 18.2 innings, gave up four earned runs on four hits in 2/3 innings of work. Rechkemmer surrendered five hits and five earned runs in two innings, while Austin Church, James Conlee and Craig Blair also saw action on the Dan Law Field mound.
 
McKinnon, Lee Neumann, and Zach Cohen each had two-hit games against Tech, while Snover had two hits and two RBI. Greer, who batted leadoff for the fourth straight game, scored two runs and stole his team-leading 18th base of the season.
 
Jerad McCrummen (1-1), who was the third pitcher Texas Tech used in the game, earned the win. McCrummen went 3 2/3 innings without allowing a hit during the time when the Red Raiders were finding offensive success. Jamodrick McGruder and Barrett Barnes led Tech with three hits each, while Bo Altobelli, Scott LeJeune, Mason Randolph and Brennan Moore each had two hits.  
 
The Rams return to action at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday for the first game of a four-game series against Eastern New Mexico at Foster Field. The two universities will play a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. on Friday before closing out the series with a single game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.