SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State baseball team fell short of a major comeback Sunday afternoon in Portales, losing 11-7 to split the series overall.
The Rams (32-10, 10-5 LSC) gave up finished the game with just one less hit than the Greyhounds (29-17, 7-11 LSC), but committed five errors in the loss.
ASU got on the board first in what was a low-scoring affair through the first six innings of the game, scoring a run in the second inning. Michael Urquidi worked a one-out walk to get the rally going followed by a single from Jay Gonzales that advanced Urquidi to third. Jonathan Soberanes hit into a fielder's choice to score Urquidi from third for the first run of the day.
The run gave a lead to Ram starter Blake Barr, who had a strong outing on the hill. The Midlothian native had the longest outing of his ASU career, going five and a third innings on the mound while allowing just four hits and one run. Barr struck out three batters on the day.
ENMU got the one run back in the bottom of the fourth to tie up the game, and neither team was able to score again in the fifth and the sixth.
ASU went out in front again in the top of the seventh inning, scoring one run after Soberanes led off with a single to right field. Catcher Zach Fleet followed with a walk before the two worked a double steal. An error on the stolen base attempt brought Soberanes around to score.
The Greyhounds took their first lead of the game in the bottom half of the inning, breaking the game open with seven runs.
The Rams responded with a pair of runs in the eighth inning, but gave up another three runs in the bottom half of the inning, heading into the ninth 11-4.
Steven Pinales and Jacob Boston led off the inning with back-to-back walks followed Urquidi being hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. A single from Jay Gonzales brought both Pinales and Boston and Soberanes singled as well to re-load the bases. Matt Waller pinch hit next and reached on a fielder's choice, also scoring Urquidi. The Ram comeback stopped there, however, as ENMU turned a double play to clinch the series split.
The Rams will be back at home this weekend for the last series at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium this season, facing UTPB in a four-game set starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday night.
