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SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – An already difficult road to a NCAA Division II South Central Regional title became even more challenging for Angelo State after the Rams dropped a 7-2 decision to Southern Arkansas on Thursday night at Robert N. Tompkins Field.
 
Angelo State (40-16) was limited to six hits and held scoreless in all but the bottom of the third inning in the first round loss to the Muleriders (37-15). SAU senior pitcher Doug Shields earned the complete-game win and struck out 12 Rams on the night.  
 
“I'm disappointed in the result and how we came out,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “I thought we came out tentative and a little scared. You're not going to win a lot of games when you strike out 12 times. I didn't think we played like the team that got us here. I'm very confident that we'll come out and play better tomorrow.”
 
The Rams will play St. Edward's at 3 p.m. on Friday needing to win to stay alive in the tournament and advance. The Hilltoppers (36-14) were 8-6 upset winners over top-seeded Central Missouri on Thursday in the day's middle game. ASU also lost its previous NCAA DII South Central opener in 2009 but advanced to championship Sunday by winning its next two games in the tournament.
 
Jake Feckley (5-3) claims the loss after going 3.0 innings in his first start since April 14. The sophomore right-hander struck out three but gave up nine hits to the Muleriders who finished the game with 15 base knocks. Matt Rechkemmer surrendered only one run in 3.0 innings of work, while Jake Albert threw two innings and Craig Blair one without giving up a run.
 
Quaid McKinnon and Andrew LaCombe each led the Rams with two hits each, while Lee Neumann and Tate Allison added a hit each. McKinnon drove in both ASU runs with a single to left field in the third inning to bring home Doug Snover and LaCombe. The 12 strikeouts were a season-high for the Rams who are now 0-4 against Southern Arkansas.  
 
Trey Buck led the Muleriders with four hits and two RBI, while Jason Dahl added three RBI and Philip Menou three hits. Seven Southern Arkansas batters finished the game with hits in its win.
 
Angelo State enters Friday with a 5-4 all-time record against St. Edward's, including a 1-0 record against the Hilltoppers in the NCAA DII postseason. That win came in an 8-3 win in the 2007 South Central Regional in Arkadelphia, Ark. ASU and St. Edward's have not played since a home-and-away series in 2009 in which the Rams swept.

“We are playing a great team in St. Edward's, but we just have to play our game and have a little fun,” LaCombe said.