SAN ANGELO – Reggie Rodriguez didn't feel any pressure standing in the batter's box with two outs and the Angelo State baseball team down 7-6 in the ninth inning.

“I wasn't thinking at all,” Rodriguez said. “There was nothing going through my head but confidence. Our coaches and players had smiles on their faces telling me that I got this. I carried that smile to the plate and I was ready.”

Those smiles and his confidence resulted in a two-run walk-off home run to lead the Rams to an 8-7 non-conference win over Lubbock Christian on Saturday at Foster Field. The win evens the series at 1-1 and gives both teams an 8-2 overall record going into Sunday's series finale at 1 p.m.

“I never give up and the team never gave up,” Rodriguez said. “It was 7-4 and we were still pumped. It's never over until the last out and we were ready to play and come back to win the ballgame.”

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Rodriguez, who finished the game 2 for 4, capped a three-run ninth inning by the Rams who had never led in the game until his cleat hit home plate for the eighth ASU run. Tyler Coughenour led off the ninth inning with a single through the left side of the infield and scored the first run of the inning on a Lee Neumann two-out double down the left field line. Neumann scored the tying run as Rodriguez sprinted around the bases to join his teammates at home plate for the walk-off.

“I couldn't even move I was so excited,” said Rodriguez of the celebration with his teammates after driving the ball over the center field fence.

Rodriguez, who now leads the Rams with two home runs this season and had three RBI in the game, has worked his way back from a broken leg he suffered on a slide during the fall. The junior from Puerto Rico played at North Central Texas College the past two seasons and said the walk-off was his first since he was a little kid. He now leads the team with 19 hits and has a .442 batting average through his first 43 at-bats as a Ram.

“He's worked really hard to get back to play on opening day and it's just really rewarding for him,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “It couldn't happen for a better guy. He brings so much to our team and I'm really happy for him.”

Neumann and Coughenour led the Rams with three hits each in the game, while Quaid McKinnon and Andrew LaCombe both had doubles against Lubbock Christian. Jake Feckley (2-0) earned the win for ASU after coming into the game in the seventh inning for starter Michael Lange. Feckley recorded five strikeouts in three innings of work, while Lange struck out six and didn't allow a walk in his third start of the season.

Brett David had a sixth-inning sacrifice fly for an RBI and scored a run in the eighth inning after stealing second base and coming all the way around after the ball hit his foot and ricochet into left field. His run made the score 7-5 and set up the heroics in the ninth.

Hunter Flake (0-1) receives the loss for Lubbock Christian after surrendering three runs on three Angelo State hits in the ninth inning. LCU starter Kyle Forsyth does not get a decision after going 5.2 innings and limiting the Rams to three runs by scattering eight hits. He left the game with the Chaps leading 5-3 in the sixth.

Brett Kauten led the Chaps at the plate with a three-hit, two RBI performance. He started the game with a one-out home run and added another home run in the fifth inning. Brandon Wilson added three RBI and Joel Lutz hit a two-RBI homer in the third to give LCU a 4-0 lead.

“It was great to come out and compete against a good team in Lubbock Christian and find a way to win,” Brooks said. “I think we competed well all day and I think it's going to make better being in these tight games and situations. Hopefully it helps us down the road.”

Angelo State and Lubbock Christian are now tied 3-3 in their all-time series going into Sunday's game. Bryant Rutledge (0-0) is set to make his first start and third appearance of the season for the Rams in the series finale. LCU has not announced its probable starter for Sunday.