SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State baseball team dropped the series opener against West Texas A&M 6-3 on Friday night at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams (32-15, 13-8 LSC) ended the night with the same amount of hits as the Buffs (36-10, 18-3 LSC) at 9, but left a number of runners on base in the loss.
ASU got on the board first in the game with a run in the second inning as Trevor Moses was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. He quickly stole second and came around to score on a single from Parker Bramlett.
The Buffs jumped out in front in the top of the fourth as Nick Canas single and Luis Amaro blasted a home run off Ram starting pitcher Shannon Broussard. WT added another run in the inning after a double and a single to go up 3-1.
Moses led off again in the bottom of the fourth and doubled to start the inning, scoring on a throwing error when the next batter, Andrew Morales, bunted. At the end of the fourth, the Rams were down 3-2.
The Rams quickly tied the game in the bottom of the fifth as Nicholas Novak led off with a triple to left field. Bradley Mathiowetz came up next and singled to drive in Novak and tie the game at 3-3. It would be the last hit with runners in scoring position ASU got during the game.
West Texas A&M got back on top in the sixth with another run and then added another in the seventh to go up 5-3.
Mathiowetz singled in the eighth and stole second base to get into scoring position, but the Rams were unable to drive him in.
ASU had one final chance in the ninth inning as Bramlett hit a one-out single, but another two quick outs ended the threat and secured a series-opening win for the Buffs.
The Rams will continue the series with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. and the regular season finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
