LAWTON, Oklahoma – After being delayed a day due to weather, the Angelo State baseball team took its first of a three game series with Cameron, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams are now riding a four game win streak as it improves to 28-17 overall and 21-9 in the Lone Star Conference to remain in a tie for first place with Texas A&M – Kingsville. ASU starter Matt Shannon (6-4) earned his sixth win of the season tossing eight solid innings for the second straight game. Closer Graylon Brown (5-5, 7) was awarded his seventh save of the season and has now tied the LSC all-time career saves record with 24 total saves. At the plate, the Rams totaled eight hits while the defense committed no errors on the field. Cameron dropped to 26-18, 14-16 LSC with the loss and Aggie pitcher, Dirk Masters (2-5), was credited with the loss.

"We did a good job of battling and competing today," said ASU head baseball coach Kevin Brooks. "We played a really solid game and Matt [Shannon] gave us eight strong innings. We were sound defensively and though we did not have a ton of opportunities to score we took advantage of the ones we did with a couple of big hits."  

The Aggies struck first in the bottom of the first with a RBI double to right center field. Down 1-0 in the top of the third the Rams answered scoring a pair as senior Sam Kohler singled to center plating Michael Urquidi, which was immediately followed by Jay Gonzales pushing Kohler across as he grounded out to short. Paxton DeLaGarza added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh plating Christian Abilla with his team leading 12th double of the year.

In eight innings of work, Shannon gave up only one run off of eight hits and retired eight aggies on strikes. The sophomore has now recorded a conference second 97 strikeouts in a conference leading 90 total innings on the mound. Brown entered in the ninth and completed the game and earned the save giving up a single hit and striking out one hitter.

"Graylon [Brown] is a winner and a great competitor that excels at finishing games," commented Brooks. "He wants the ball in those situations and he finds a way to get the job done."

DeLaGarza led the attack with a 3-for-4 performance at the dish, stroking a pair of doubles and a RBI. Tyler Coolbaugh led the squad on the bases pocketing the only stolen base of the game. Senior, Hunter Spear recorded his first hit of the season as he entered to pinch hit in the top of the eighth.

The Rams return to the McCord Field in Lawton on Sunday, May 1 for a doubleheader which is slated to start at 1 p.m. LSC strikeout leader, Bryce Zak is scheduled to get the start in the first game of the day and is expected to be followed by Jayden O'Dell in game two.