SAN ANGELO - The No. 2 Angelo State baseball team clinched at least a split in the series with No. 4 West Texas A&M Saturday, winning one game in the doubleheader at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams (18-3) topped the Buffs (17-4) in game one of the doubleheader 9-1, before falling in the second game in a 3-1 loss.
ASU opened the first game of the day almost the exact same way it opened Friday night's game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff man Jonathan Soberanes walked to start of the game before center fielder Elias Aguirre singled. One batter later, catcher Matt Waller doubled down the third-base line to score both of them. Jacob Boston followed with an RBI single to score the third and final run of the inning.
The three runs gave an early lead to ASU starting pitcher Ryan Smith, who earned his team-leading fifth win of the season against the Buffs. Smith gave up just one earned run in five and one third innings on the mound, striking out six batters in the process.
Michael Urquidi led off the second inning by getting on base as well, and he and Nick Novak both came around to score on a single from Steven Pinales for a pair of insurance runs.
ASU scored again in the third when Jacob Boston walked to lead off the inning. Boston came around to scored when the next batter, Tyler Coolbaugh doubled to left field.
WT's only run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning when Ryan Smith allowed a one-out double and a single. Reliever Dustin Angiel came in with two runners still on base, but ended the Buff threat with back-to-back strikeouts.
Kenton Schroter finished out the game in his second relief appearance of the weekend to end the game, 9-1.
Game two of the day was a pitcher's duel between Josh Payne of West Texas A&M and Shane Browning for the Rams.
Browning had his best start of the season against the Buffs. The junior matched his season-high in innings pitched with 5 in the game and in strikeouts with seven. Browning was removed from the game with the score still tied at 0-0, however, earning a no-decision for his performance. The Lubbock native is still looking for his first win of the season.
West Texas A&M finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning after Browning was removed. The first two Buffs reached on a bunt single and a walk. The two runs came around to score on back-to-back RBI singles with one out. The Buffs tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh to go up 3-0.
Angelo State attempted to make a comeback when down to its final three outs in the seventh. With one out, Mitch Henshaw singled up the middle and first basemen Jay Gonzales walked. Tyler Coolbaugh brought in the first ASU run of the game with a single to left field, scoring Henshaw. West Texas A&M brought in its closer after the RBI single, who closed the door for the 3-1 Buff win.
The Rams will go for the series win at 1 p.m. Sunday at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
