CANYON, Texas – The top-ranked Angelo State baseball team opened the final regular-season series with a victory, defeating West Texas A&M 7-5 on the road on Friday at Wilder Park.
 
The Rams improve to 41-6 overall on the season and 39-6 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Rams jumped out ahead in the first inning, scoring one run on a throwing error before Jordan Williams singled through the right side to bring home Austin Beck.
 
ASU tallied three more runs as Kamden Kelton hit a sac bunt in the second, scoring Justin Harris on the play while Jacob Gurerro stole third base in the third inning before coming around to score on an errant throw. In the fourth inning, Kelton laid down another sac bunt to score Williams and give the Rams a 5-0 advantage.
 
The Buffs got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a double to center field and a wild pitch. WT added two more runs in the fifth after another wild pitch brought home a run followed by an RBI single to make it 5-4.
 
Braxton Pearson started on the mound for the Rams, throwing four innings with five hits and two runs to go along with two strikeouts.
 
In the seventh innings, the Rams added two more runs on a double by Tripp Clark, scoring Reese Johnson and Thomas Cain to extend the lead to 7-4.
 
Picking up the win was Jackson Haga who tossed 3 2/3 innings in relief with five hits, three runs and three strikeouts to improve to 3-2 on the season. Scott Ellis earned his third save of the season, throwing one 1/3 innings without allowing a hit.
 
WT added a run in the eighth inning on a solo home run but couldn't complete the comeback.
 
The Rams and the Buffs continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.