LAWTON, Oklahoma – The Angelo State baseball team defeated Cameron 8-1 on Sunday, clinching a series win in the process.
The Rams (22-8, 3-1 LSC) outhit the Aggies (11-16, 1-3 LSC) 11 to 5 on the day and took advantage of three Cameron errors.
"Our pitchers were great today and we got to see Andrew Croucher out there for the first time this season, which was good," Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks said. "We would have liked to get the sweep here, but winning three out of four is better than nothing."
ASU took the lead first in the game, scoring a run before Cameron even had a chance to bat. Michael Urquidi led it off, doubling to left field in the first at-bat of the game. A bunt single from Trevor Moses moved Urquidi to third, and Mitch Henshaw grounded out to the right side of the infield to bring him home.
Moses then came around to score as well as Andrew Morales singled through the middle. ASU would score one more unearned run before Cameron was finally able to get the third out.
The 3-0 lead worked to the advantage of Ram starter Josh Barnett, who was starting for the first time in his collegiate career. Barnett gave up just one run in the first inning while striking out a batter.
Andrew Croucher came in to replace Barnett at the start of the second inning, making his first appearance with the Rams this season. The junior pitched two innings, allowed just one hit and struck out a pair of batters during his time on the mound.
The Rams were unable to add to their lead while Croucher was on the mound, but did so after Cole Brandon took over the pitching duties in the fourth inning. Brandon sat down the first three batters he faced in the fourth, and the Ram offense responded with three more runs in the top of the fifth inning.
With one out, Morales doubled to get the offense going. Bradley Mathiowetz followed with a single of his own before Nicholas Novak tripled to score the pair. Novak came around to score when Parker Bramlett pinch hit and smacked a single into right field, putting the Rams up 7-1.
Brandon continued to keep the Aggies at bay through the fifth and sixth innings before ASU scored again in the seventh.
Morales again hit a double to get things going—his fifth of the season. Mathiowetz then reached on an error, and Morales scored when the next batter, Novak, doubled to left center. It would be the final run of the day for the Rams.
Brandon breezed through the seventh inning and got another two outs in the eighth before being replaced by Shannon Broussard. Broussard got the final out in the eighth and then struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to secure the victory for Angelo State.
The Rams will return home this week for a four-game series March 29-31 against Tarleton State. Fans are encouraged to attend Thursday night's series opener, as a fireworks show will take place after the game.
