SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State baseball rallied in the bottom of the eighth to edge Cameron, 5-4, Thursday evening on Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams improved to 16-10 overall and 9-4 in the Lone Star Conference. Relief pitcher Graylon Brown earned the win and moved to 3-3 on the season. The senior tossed 2 2/3 innings giving up zero runs on two hits and striking out a pair of hitters. ASUs scored its five runs off of seven hits and left five on base. The Aggies drop to 16-8, 5-8 LSC with Thursday's loss. Cameron starting pitcher Bryan Belote took the loss and is now 2-3 on the year.
"Christian was able to come up with the big hit tonight," Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks said. "The centerfielder almost made a diving catch but luckily it got away from him. I tried to stop Jay Gonzalez late but we had the same play happen last week. I kept him running at WT and I think he was surprised and he hesitated and was thrown out. Tonight he kept on rolling through and it worked out. Graylon came out of the bullpen and did a great job of keeping Cameron scoreless and we were able to get the win."
Down, 4-2, in the bottom of the eighth inning with Tyler Coolbaugh, Paxton DeLaGarza and Jay Gonzalez on base, Christian Abilla knocked a single to the outfield. This sent the three runners sprinting around the bags. After Coolbaugh and DeLaGarza crossed to tie the game at 4, Gonzalez rounded third. The Aggies centerfielder launched the ball home, however, a timely slide and off target throw allowed Gonzalez to place the go-ahead run on the board.
Cameron struck first plating two runners in the first and another two in the sixth. The Rams answered in the bottom of the sixth when Steven Pinales took a 0-1 pitch deep with the ball landing beyond the left field bullpen to make the score 4-1. Then in the bottom of the seventh leadoff hitter, Gonzalez, cranked his first home run of the season over the left field fence to make the score 4-2.
Bryce Zak started the game for the Rams and threw 6 1/3 innings giving up 4 runs (2 earned) off of eight hits. He added eight strikeouts to this conference leading total, and now has 74 on the season. Gonzalez turn in an impressive 2-for-3 performance at the plate, scoring two runs with one homer and a RBI. Abilla lead the team with three RBIs and Coolbaugh drew a team leading two walks.
"We have to take advantage when other team's make mistakes like tonight," Brooks said. "We have to correct the mental errors moving forward."
The Rams return to action on Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union, Friday, March 24 for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. with right-hander, Matt Shannon, slated to take the mound.
