ASU-ECU BOX SCORE

ASU-SEU BOX SCORE

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 4 Angelo State softball team used a comeback in the first game  of the season to defeat East Central 6-4 and followed it up a couple hours later with three home runs in a 10-1 run-rule victory over St. Edward's at the St. Mary's Classic.
 
“It is a great way to start the season,” head coach Travis Scott said after the games. “To be able to win a come from behind game against a good East Central team and then to go out and run-rule St. Edward's who was in the regional final with us  last year makes me very proud of this team.”
 
St. Edward's (1-1) were able to get on the board in the first inning after leadoff hitter Cydney Ervin reached on a single. She later scored on a wild pitch to take give the Hilltoppers an early 1-0 lead.
 
It didn't take long for the Rambelles to respond. With two on and one out Carly Peters hit her first home run of the season over the left center wall to five ASU a 3-0 advantage.
 
ASU continued swinging in the second inning as Amanda Wilhelm hit a leadoff double to right center. Taylor Jensen sacrificed Wilhelm over to third. Lauren Smith and Maddy McGarity were walked to bring up Morgan Spearman. The junior took a 2-1 pitch over the wall for a grand slam and push the lead to 8-1 after two innings. . It is Spearman's first home run of the season and the third grand slam of her career.
 
Freshman Darian Dunn ended the game early in the fifth inning with her first career home run that plated Peters for the 10-1 win.
 
“We did a good job of not chasing balls and got three home runs off a very good pitcher,” Scott said.
 
Mary Kate McKay would find her rhythm after the first inning and hold St. Edward's to five hits and only one run for her first victory of the season.
 
“Mary Kate McKay had a great day in the circle for us,” Scott said. “We have to clean up a few things on defense because we had too many issues.”
 
In the first game of the day the Rambelles took few innings to get going against East Central. ECU's Brianna Nunley held ASU to one run through the first five innings before the offense erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Down 4-1 to start the sixth inning, the Rambelles started with Kacie Easley and Wilhelm drawing the first walks of the game off of Nunley. The Tigers changed pitchers to Lacey Paulk and she proceeded to walk three of the next four batters scoring two runs for ASU.
                                                                                                                                                                                
Dunn pinch hit for Brittney Davis down 4-3 and the freshman took a pitch up the middle to score Rachel Moore to tie the game.  Smith hit a grounder to third that the third baseman botched to let Smith reach while Ambra Hill and McGarity scored giving the Rambelles a 6-4 advantage.
 
Sandra Serna sat down the Tigers in order in the top of the seventh to give ASU a 6-4 victory. She pitched two innings for the win while only allowing two hits and one run.
 
The Rambelles are now 9-1 under Scott in season openers.
 
“We have a tough day tomorrow but we will enjoy today but we know we have a big challenge tomorrow with Lubbock Christian and St. Mary's,” Scott said.
 
Angelo State will face the No. 2 team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in Lubbock Christian at 10 a.m. followed by St. Mary's at 12 p.m.