CANYON – The Angelo State baseball team started off the series against West Texas A&M with a 14-6 win Friday night.
The Rams (18-5) pounded out 14 runs on 20 hits during the night, including five from Nicholas Novak, who went 5-for-6 with six RBI on the night.
"It was a nice way to start things out this weekend," Angelo State Assistant Baseball Coach John Anderson said. "The guys came out and hit the ball really well and really got into their bullpen, so that was good to see."
West Texas A&M got on the board first in the game, striking with a run in the first inning.
ASU quickly got the runs back in the top of the third however, as Novak drove in his first two runs of the game with a two-RBI single that scored Michael Urquidi and Jonathan Soberanes. Andrew Morales then drove in Novak to give the Rams a 3-1 lead.
Urquidi then helped the Rams add to the lead in the fourth inning, smacking a double to right field that scored Parker Bramlett. Urquidi was 4-4 with two walks on the night, reaching base all six times he came to the plate.
The Buffs fought back with two runs of their own in the fourth inning, but ASU added to their lead again in the fifth. Novak singled and stole second to start the inning, and Morales followed up with another single to drive him in.
Another two runs from WT in the fifth inning brought the two teams even again, however.
It was the seventh inning that ASU took the lead for good, breaking the game open with seven runs. It was Novak again who drove in the first runs, blasting a home run to right center that scored himself and Soberanes, who had walked to start the inning.
 Alex Salcido, Jacob Boston and Mitch Henshaw all reached base with one out for Parker Bramlett, who singled to drive two of the runners in. A sacrifice bunt from Elias Aguirre brought another run home and turned the lineup over for the Rams. ASU added another two runs in the seventh before WT finally ended the top half of the inning.
The Buffs got one final run in the bottom half of the inning, but reliever Josh Barnett came in for Tyler Lesley and shut the door. Lesley had started the game on the mound, giving up five earned runs while striking out five and earning his LSC-leading sixth win of the season.
Barnett ended up throwning two innings in relief, while striking out two batters and allowing just one hit.
The Rams added their two final runs in the ninth. Urquidi walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a groundout. Novak then singled him home. Later in the inning, Salcido drove in Parker Tadlock, who pinch ran for Andrew Morales.
Shannon Broussard came in to pitch the ninth inning for ASU, sitting down all three batters he faced and closing out the 14-6 win.
The Rams will finish the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting a 4 p.m. and a series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
