For the first time in the three-year history of the program, the Angelo State Rams (45-17) were crowned champions of the Lone Star Conference Wednesday afternoon in Abilene as they defeated the Abilene Christian Wildcats, 3-1, in the championship game of the LSC Baseball Tournament at Crutcher Scott Field. By winning the tournament, the Rams also receive the automatic bid to the NCAA DII South Central Regional Tournament.
The Rams were led on the mound by Cody Broussard and Joe Key. Broussard, who got the win in the first game of the tournament, was spectacular on the mound as he held the Wildcats hitless for 5.1 innings until JJ Pacheco bounced a double over the outstretched glove of Brett Nightingale and into the left field corner. Broussard finished the game going 7.2 innings and surrendering just one earned run, a solo home run off the bat of Adam Smith with one out in the eighth, while striking out five and walking none to improve his record to 11-1 on the season. Joe Key came on in relief of Broussard and was just as good as his predecessor, facing five batters and giving up just one hit in collecting his third save of the season.
ASU got on the board first in the top of the third as Daniel Ochs, voted the most valuable player of the tournament, led off with a double to left. Ochs scored when Steven Allred reached out and poked a double down the right field line off of ACU starter Chris Wiman to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.
The Rams increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth and it was Ochs again who got things started, this time with a single to center. Ochs then stole second and came home on Brett Nightingale's single back up the middle.
ASU's final run was a classic manufactured one and began with Drew Caraway drawing a base-on-balls to lead things off on the sixth. On the second pitch to Clay Calfee, Caraway stole second. When Calfee lifted a fly ball to left, Caraway tagged up and headed for third. Mike Elkerson's attempt to get Caraway bounced past Trey Watten, allowing Caraway to trot home with the Rams' final run.
All that was left for the Rams to do was celebrate. When Caraway grabbed Watten's fly ball in center for the third out in the ninth, the Rams dugout exploded onto the field and into a pile behind the pitcher's mound to celebrate their first conference title and first appearance in the NCAA regionals.
Five other Rams besides Ochs were selected to the All-Tournament team. Catcher Bucky Strickland, Calfee at first base, Allred at second, and Broussard and Michael Gunter as pitchers were selected by the media members covering the tournament.
The Rams now await the pairings for the regional which will be announced on Sunday night. ASU will find out where and whom they will meet in their first-ever NCAA Tournament game.
