CANYON, Texas – The 10^th-ranked Angelo State baseball team closed out the final game of the series against No. 5 West Texas A&M with a victory, defeating the Buffs 8-5 at Wilder Park on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Rams avoid the sweep as they improve to 21-5 overall on the season and 16-5 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
ASU scored early against WT as Josh Elvir forced a walk before advancing to third on a single by Nick Seginowich through the left side. Aaron Walters drove in the first run in the top of the first inning, hitting into a fielder's choice to score Elvir.
 
Both pitchers were locked in after that as neither team allowed a run through the next three innings of play.
 
WT got its offense going in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs with one swing as Keone Givens hit a grand slam to go up 4-1.
 
The Rams took one run back in the sixth as Seginowich grounded out to the shortstop, scoring Elvir in the process. ASU tied the game in the seventh inning, starting with a solo home run by Nicholas Novak followed by an RBI single from Elvir.
 
Novak followed up his solo shot in the seventh with a two-RBI homer to right field to give the Rams a 6-4 advantage, scoring Jordan Williams with the hit. ASU finished the game with two more runs in the ninth inning to take an 8-4 lead.
 
The Buffs looked for a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, leading off with a single before a double to right center scored one run but back-to-back strikeouts ended the game.
 
Carson Childers started on the mound for the Rams, tossing four innings of work with two runs off zero hits and three walks. Jake Rogers earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season, throwing 4 2/3 innings of work with three runs and four strikeouts while Benjamin Elder picked up his first save of the season.
 
Next up, the Rams will play one nonconference game on the road against St. Edward's on Tuesday before returning to Foster Field for a three-game series against Eastern New Mexico beginning Friday, Apr. 16.