SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State baseball team played its first road game of the season Wednesday afternoon and exploded offensively in an 18-6 win against St. Mary's in San Antonio.
The Rams (9-1) racked up 13 hits and walked 13 times while at the plate against the Rattlers (4-1), compiling four multiple run innings I the game.
"Jake Mathys did a great job once again out of the bullpen, and I thought our hitters did really well making the opposing pitchers work and wearing them down," ASU head baseball coach Kevin Brooks said. "We weren't perfect by any means but we played hard and got the win."
St. Mary's got on the board first in the matchup, blasting a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning for an early lead. The Rams immediately got one of the runs back in the top of the inning, however, as Jay Gonzales singled to lead off and advanced to second on an error. Gonzalez then took third on a wild pitch and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Pinales. The RBI was the first of a team-leading four Pinales racked up on the day and it was the first of two times Gonzales would come around to score.
The Rattlers responded with another two runs in the bottom half of the second, pushing their lead to three runs, which is the largest it would get in the game.
In the third inning ASU took the lead and never looked back. The rally started when designated hitter Mitch Henshaw singled to start the inning. Freshman Nick Novak followed with a walk, and one batter later Elias Aguirre laid down a bunt single to load the bases with one out. Third basemen Jacob Boston then hit a sac fly, bringing the Rams within two.
After the sacrifice fly, the Rattler pitcher lost control. Aguirre and Novak both advanced on a wild pitch, and the next two batters, Gonzales and Pinales, walked. Zack DeLaGarza came in for St. Mary's to try and end the inning, but a double from catcher Matt Waller cleared the bases and put the Rams up 6-4 and successfully completed the ASU comeback.
Angelo State tacked on three runs in the fourth for insurance, two of which scored on a double by Pinales for his third and fourth RBI of the game. The Rams then capitalized on a pair of Rattler mistakes to plate two more in the fifth as Henshaw scored on a balk and Novak came in on a wild pitch.
St. Mary's scored its final two runs of the game in the sixth inning, plating two on an RBI single, but the Rams remained up five. ASU would score once more in the eighth, and then break the game wide open with another five-run outburst in the top of the ninth inning.
Jake Mathys earned the win for the Rams in relief, taking the mound in the bottom of the second and allowing just two runs in his four innings pitched. Dustin Angiel made just his third appearance of the season after Mathys was removed, pitching two thirds of an inning without allowing a run.
Senior pitcher Joe Hauser came in and shut the door on the Rattlers for the final three innings, earning his fifth save of the year already. The Georgetown native allowed just two hits and struck out one during his time on the mound and holding the Rattlers while ASU finished out the 18-6 victory.
The Rams will not play this weekend, but will be back at home for their next series as they take on Eastern New Mexico March 3-5 at Foster Field at First Community Credit Union Stadium.
