CANYON, Texas – The Angelo State baseball team dropped its first game of its four game series with No.18 West Texas A&M, 2-1, on Friday night.

The Rams fell to 13-9 and 6-3 in the Lone Star Conference with the loss. ASU recorded its single runoff of six hits and committed no errors on the field.  Starting pitcher Matt Shannon threw a complete game and was credited with the loss. He has now dropped to 2-3 on the season. With the win, the West Texas A&M improved to 18-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference. Buffs stating pitcher Justin McAllister received the win and reliever Kyle Tinius was credited with a save.  

"It was a typical game in Canyon," said ASU head coach Kevin Brooks. "We just have not made plays when we have to make plays in close game like this one leaving us on the short end."

WT placed the first run on the board during this low scoring affair in the bottom of the fourth with a bunt just to the right of the mound. Angelo State answered in the top of the sixth as Paxton DeLaGarza singled through the right side pushing Elias Aguirre across. The Buffs would have the last word in the seventh as they plated another runner off an RBI single to the right side. Despite having the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, ASU would be unable to bring him home.

In eight innings pitched, Shannon struck out two and walked only one. Both Sam Kohler and DeLaGarza were 2-for-4 on the day, while Steven Pinales was 1-for-2. DeLaGarza recorded the team's only RBI and stolen base of the day.

The Rams will return to the diamond in Canyon on Saturday for a doubleheader with the Buffs. Bryce Zak is slated to take the mound for the Rams in game one which is slated to start at 4 p.m. In the second game of the doubleheader, Angelo State will look to DeLaGarza to improve on his 2-0 record from the hill.