SAN ANGELO, Texas – The 17^th-ranked Angelo State baseball team fell just short against No. 23 Lubbock Christian, falling 9-8 in the first game of the series at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium on Friday night.
 
With the loss, the Rams move to 13-4 overall and in Lone Star Conference play while the Champs improve to 12-3, 10-3 LSC.
 
The Chaps scored early, leading off the first inning with a solo home run before adding two more runs to go up 3-0.
 
ASU took one run back in the bottom of the second as Tayten Tredaway hit a solo shot of his own to right field.
 
After a couple scoreless innings, the Chaps added two more runs off solo home run before a single down the left field line made it 5-1.
 
The Rams answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Austin Beck scored two runs off a single to left field to bring home Jordan Williams and Aaron Walters. Koby Kelton grounded out to second base, adding another run in the inning as Justin Lee scored to close to gap to 5-4.
 
Benjamin Elder started on the mound for ASU, throwing eight innings of work while collecting a season-high of 10 strikeouts. He finished with eight hits and five runs on the day.
 
In the sixth inning, Kamden Kelton led off with a double before coming around to score on an infield single by Justin Lee to tie the game at 5-5. The Rams would take their first lead of the game in the next at-bat as Beck hit a ball to shallow right field to score Williams from third.
 
The Chaps rallied the ninth inning to regain the lead, scoring one run off a single to right field before bringing home another run on an errant throw to third. LCU capped off the inning with a two-run shot to left center for the third home run of the game.
 
ASU fought back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on groundouts by Kelton and Hardy but couldn't find enough offense.
 
The Rams and Chaps continue their series with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 4 p.m.