ODESSA, Texas – The Angelo State baseball team finished off a series sweep of UT Permian Basin with a 9-2 win Sunday afternoon.
The Rams (31-14, 12-7 LSC) used just three pitchers overall, giving up two runs on just six hits throughout the contest.
"Bradley Mathiowetz was just awesome today and really carried us through the weekend," Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks said. "Croucher was good too and went deep into the game, which was good to see, and we finally broke it open late."
Andrew Croucher made just his second start of the season in the game, setting new career highs in nearly every category. He pitched six innings, allowing just three hits and no runs. He struck out six batters and only walked one.
Croucher worked through the first and second innings with just one baserunner before the Ram offense finally gave him a lead in the top half of the third.
ASU started off the inning with back-to-back singles from catcher Alex Salcido and center fielder Michael Urquidi. One batter later, Bradley Mathiowetz singled up the middle to score Salcido and give the Rams the lead for the day.
Salcido sparked a run-scoring effort when he came up again in the fifth inning. Once again, the El Paso native singled, this time with one out. A bunt single from Nicholas Novak and an error from the Falcon third basemen pushed Salcido to third, and he came into score on a wild pitch.
Reliever Shane Browning came in to pitch starting in the seventh, and the Falcons scratched across their lone run of the day that inning.
Angelo State got the run back in the top of the eighth working a pair of walks with one out. Trevor Moses and Mathiowetz then moved into scoring position on a single from Jacob Boston. Mathiowetz then scored on a wild pitch, pushing the ASU lead to 3-1 before the inning ended.
Browning pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth before the Rams broke the game open in the top of the ninth. Salcido led off again and singled and ASU quickly loaded the bases with no outs.
Moses singled to drive in the first two runs of the inning before Boston doubled to add another. Parker Bramlett then worked a walk, and Andrew Morales followed with a single to drive in two more runs before the top of the ninth finally came to an end.
Logan Teske came in to finish out the game for the Rams, allowing a run before closing the door and securing the series sweep.
Angelo State will now return home for their final regular season series against West Texas A&M May 4-6 at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
