SAN ANGELO, Texas – The sixth-ranked Angelo State baseball team split Saturday's games in the South Central Regional against Texas A&M – Kingsville, winning game one 14-3 while losing 12-11 in game two at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams and Javelinas will play game three tomorrow at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to the South Central Super Regional next week.
Game One: ASU 14, TAMUK 3
The Rams jumped out ahead of the Javelinas in the first inning as Aaron Walters hit a three-run homer over the right field wall before Thomas Cain's sac-fly make it 4-0.
Walters added another run in the second, hitting a double down the left field line to bring home Tripp Clark. Jordan Williams reached base on a fielder's choice, scoring Koby Kelton in the process as the Rams took a 6-0 advantage.
The Javelinas scored their first runs of the game in the bottom of the second, hitting a two-run homer to cut the lead to four.
In the third inning, Justin Harris doubled into left field for an RBI before Walters picked up his fifth and sixth RBI of the game with a single to center field.
The Rams added another run on an error in the fourth while TAMUK singled for an RBI to make it 10-3.
Aaron Munson earned his ninth win of the season to improve to 9-2 overall. He threw seven innings of work with three runs off five hits, collecting five strikeouts. Jack Brinley tossed two innings of relief with only one hit and three punchouts.
In the fifth, Walters doubled to right center for another RBI followed by a single from Williams to bring Walters home. The Rams closed out their scoring in the eight as Charlie Bartlett doubled down the right field line for a score while Reese Johnson singled to center field.
Game Two: TAMUK 12, ASU 11
The Javelinas struck first in the second game of the day, scoring on a ground out in the first inning before putting up five runs in the third, capped off by a three-run home run.
In the bottom of the third, the Rams tied the game with six runs, scoring the first on a bases-loaded walk by Justin Lee followed by a two-RBI single by Williams. Kamden Kelton brought in a run on a single to right field before Cain doubled for two runs.
TAMUK found an answer the very next inning, hitting a three-run home run to regain the lead 9-6. After a couple of scoreless innings, the Javelinas added another run on a pick-off play to go up by four runs.
Jake Rogers started on the mound, throwing three 2/3 innings with nine hits and nine runs. Jackson Haga tossed two 2.3 innings in relief, along with five hits with one run while Jack Brinley threw one 1/3 innings with two hits and two runs.
The Javelinas scored two runs in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch and a sac-fly which would be enough to take the game.
ASU nearly tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, scoring five runs beginning with a single by Tayten Tredaway. Koby Kelton followed that up with a double while Walters brought him home on a hit to center field. Justin Lee brought the Rams to within one run with a two-run homer over the left field wall but the scoring would end there.
