In the longest game in Angelo State baseball history, the Rams (47-17) erupted for five runs in the top of the 16th inning to break open a 3-3 game and defeat the St Edward's Hilltoppers for the first time ever, 8-3, Friday afternoon at Rab Rodgers in Arkadelphia, Ark., to remain undefeated in the NCAA DII South Central Regional Tournament and eliminating the Hilltoppers in the process.
Clay Calfee began the scoring in the 16th when he lined a triple into the right field corner that scored Steven Allred and Drew Caraway who had both singled with one out. Jimmy Cox followed with a sharp single through the right side of the infield, scoring Calfee. Kelvin Roberts came in for Cox and stole second and was advanced to third on Bucky Strickland's single to center. Strickland went to second when SEU threw home to hold up Roberts at third. Roberts and Strickland came home with the final two runs of the inning on Nate Hemm's double down the left field line.
The Hilltoppers scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the second when SEU catcher Yannick Bergeron led off the inning with his 10th home run of the season. The second run for St. Edward's was the result of a throwing error when Ram right fielder Daniel Ochs attempted to get SEU designated hitter Brian Jackson advancing to third of a fly out.
ASU tied the game at 2-2 in their next at-bat when Calfee drove in Caraway with the first of his three RBI of the game after Caraway had stolen second for his 38th stolen base of the year. Calfee was moved to second on a Cox grounder and came home on a Strickland center up the middle.
SEU regained the lead in the bottom of the third and it was Bergeron that was responsible for the RBI. After SEU center fielder Brian Thomas had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Bergeron ripped a single to right which scored Thomas with the go ahead run.
The Rams tied the game in the seventh with a two-out rally. Cox began the rally with a single to right and came home when Strickland sent a sinking liner to center that Thomas dove for and had the ball skip under his glove and roll all the way to the fence for a triple, and setting up the marathon.
St. Edward's had a golden opportunity to end the game in the bottom of the 11th inning. Pinch hitter Chris Dinges led off the inning with a double down the left field line and was advanced to third on a fly out two right. Thomas Dinges then sent a fly ball to Caraway in center and Caraway sent a strike to Strickland who held on to the throw and tagged out Dinges as Dinges bowled Strickland over.
Cody Broussard got the start for the Rams and went eight innings, giving up only two earned runs while striking out seven and walking three. Joe Key came on in relief of Broussard and was masterful in earning the win and evening his record at 5-5. Key pitched the final eight innings limiting the Hilltoppers to four hits while striking out four and walking none.
The Rams will next play the winner of the game between the University of Montevallo and the University of West Florida in the winner's bracket final. First pitch is tentatively set for 9:30 a.m. and will be carried in San Angelo on KKSA 1260 AM. There will be no internet broadcast of the game because of the Rambelles participation in the NCAA DII Softball World Series in Akron, Ohio. Live stats of the game can be followed by logging on to www.obu.edu/athletics and clicking on the NCAA Baseball banner.
