Box Score

SAN ANGELO – West Texas A&M scored eight runs on six hits and three Angelo State errors in the top of the sixth inning to break open a close game and took a 14-3 Lone Star Conference win from the Rams in the series finale on Saturday at Foster Field.

ASU (20-12, 6-6 LSC) and WT (18-13, 5-7 LSC) split their four-game series with the Buffs taking the final two games of the series. The Rams fall to 10-9 at home this season after committing a season-high seven errors in the game which was also the first time this season they have been run-ruled.

“They were able to put some hits together against us and then we just fell apart,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “That was tough to see and isn't the way we needed to finish this series.”

Jake Albert (3-2) receives the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in a relief appearance where he entered the game in the second inning for starter Travis Stavinoha. WT's Parker Wood hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning off Albert to give the Buffs a 5-3 lead after the Rams had lead through four innings.

ASU jumped out quick on the Buffs with three runs in the first inning, but would not score again in the game. Tyler Coughenour led off with a double to right-center field for the Rams and would score the first run on an Andrew LaCombe fielder's choice, while Quaid McKinnon and LaCombe would both score on wild pitches off WT starter Paul Pulley.

Pulley (2-1) would settle in and not allow another run in the game. He threw 6.1 innings with five strikeouts and working through eight ASU hits.

Coughenour and McKinnon each led the Rams with two hits, while Lee Neumann, Ryan Greer, David Goggin and Hunter Choate had one hit each. McKinnon finished the series hitting .400 with six hits – including three doubles with Choate and Neumann each having five hits each in the series. Summers had three doubles in the series, while LaCombe led the Rams with four RBI.

Wood finished the game with two hits and three RBI for WT, while Matt Redfearn , Mitch Tybroski and David Hebert each had two hits in an 11-hit effort for the Buffs. WT only committed one error in the game and improve to 15-3 in program history at Foster Field against the Rams.  

Angelo State returns to action on Tuesday with a non-conference game against nationally-ranked St. Mary's at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio. The Rams and Rattlers split their home-and-away series last season with the road team winning each game. ASU will then return to LSC play with a four-game series at Eastern New Mexico next weekend.