CANYON - The Angelo State baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader with West Texas A&M at Wilder Field, losing 6-5 before winning 13-3.
The Rams (38-11, 16-6 LSC) now have a 2-1 lead in the series and will go for the series win over the Buffs (32-15, 13-8 LSC) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
ASU scored early and often on the day, starting in the first inning of the first game. Outfielder Elias Aguirre led of the game with a walk and promptly scored when the following batter, Tyler Coolbaugh, tripled to deep left field. Coolbaugh then came to the plate as well when Mitch Henshaw followed with a single.
WT got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first, but the Rams added another run in the third on a single from Jacob Boston.
The Buffs then tied the game at three with a home run in the fourth and then took a 4-6 lead with another home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Rams got one run back in their last half inning when Aguirre singled to score Jonathan Soberanes, but were unable to come back in the opening game of the doubleheader.
ASU waited until the second inning of game two on Saturday to score, doing so on a single from freshman Nick Novak that scored Michael Urquidi.
In the third inning, ASU added on to its lead first with a RBI single from Henshaw. Boston came to the plate next and sent the 2-1 pitch deep over the left field wall for a three run shot.
Novak again helped add to the lead in the top of the fifth inning with a single to right field that once again scored Urquidi, and catcher Joe Scott Pace brought in another run with a sacrifice bunt to score Nate Ruane.
In the sixth, Boston came to the plate again and helped the Rams reach the double-digit run mark with his second home run of the night this time a two-run shot. The Arizona native is now tied for second in the Lone Star Conference with 10 home runs on the season.Â
Mitch Henshaw added another tally in the home run column as well in the final inning of the day, belting his own two-run shot to left center in the top of the seventh.
The Rams' offensive outburst earned the third win of the season for ASU reliever Dustin Angiel, who pitched an inning and a third while allowing just one hit and striking out one Buff.
ASU will go for the series win at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Wilder Park.
