STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State snapped a four-game Lone Star Conference skid and handed Angelo State its most lopsided loss of the season with a 14-4 run-rule win over the Rams on Friday in the series opener at the Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex.

ASU (23-16, 12-12 LSC) was run-ruled for the first time this season and also dropped a game by more than three runs for the first time. The Rams and Texans (19-16, 9-13 LSC) were even with 11 hits each and neither team committed an error throughout the game. ASU now leads the season-series 3-2 going into a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.

"The game couldn't have started any better for us on our side, but we weren't able to get out of the first without them putting together a big inning on their side," ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. "It was the first time this year that our pitching wasn't able to do the job. Offensively, we were better until the fourth and fifth innings when we started giving away at-bats again."

The Rams opened the game with two runs on three hits in the first inning, including an RBI single from David Goggin to drive in Tyler Coughenour who led the game off with a single to right-center. Christian Summers hit into a fielder's choice to reach first and would score on a Cameron Massengill single after he had stole second base to get into scoring position.

Tarleton State responded quickly through to ASU's 2-0 lead and took advantage of three walks and two hit-by-pitches from Jason Zgardowski. The ASU starter struck out one, but received the loss after allowing six earned runs on three hits and the passes in 2/3 innings of work before exiting before the end of the first inning.

The Rams, who trailed 6-2 after one inning, would trim their deficit to 6-4 with two more runs I the third inning with Reggie Rodriguez hitting an RBI single to center field to score Summers who led off with a single to left and Blake Bass hitting a sacrifice fly to score Brett David. The Texans once again responded though, scoring a run in the bottom of the third and then breaking the game open with four runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. Garrett Kilgore highlighted the offensive explosion for TSU with a three-run home run to left field in the fourth inning.

David, Massengill, Rodriguez and Choate each had two hits for the Rams on the day, while Coughenour and Summers stole bases.

Robert Baker (5-4) earned the win after throwing a complete-game with five strikeouts and surviving the 11-hit day by the Rams. Baker threw 110 pitches on the day and stranded nine Rams on base. Alvaro Moreno led TSU by going 4-for-4, while Noel Nevarez had two hits and three RBI and Kilgore produced four runs on two hits.

The 10-run loss was the first double-digit loss since dropping a 12-0 decision to West Texas A&M in last season's conference tournament and it was only the second time this season an opponent has scored in double-digits.

The three-game set will continue and conclude with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. Blake Bass is scheduled to start the first game for the Rams, while Jake Feckley will make the start in the finale.