SAN ANGELO, Texas – The 17th-ranked Angelo State baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader against the UT Tyler Patriots, winning game one 23-8 before falling 8-5 in game two on Saturday at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
With the split, the Rams move to 9-6 overall on the year and in Lone Star Conference action.
GAME 1: ASU 23, UTT 8
The Patriots jumped ahead early in game one, scoring two runs in the first inning on a double before bringing in four runs in the second, capped off by a three-run homer to make it 6-0.
ASU got on the board in the third inning as Tayten Tredaway hit a sac fly to bring home Weston Valasek. In the fourth, Valasek cut into the lead with a three-run homer to left field to make it 6-4.
Dax Dathe started on the mound for the Rams, throwing five 2/3 innings with eight runs on nine hits while collecting 10 strikeouts.
In the fifth inning, the Rams took their first lead of the game as Tripp Clark singled to score Jacob Guerrero before Ryder McDaniel brought in two runs on a single to left field to make it 7-6.
After back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the sixth gave the lead back to the Patriots, the Rams poured on 16 runs in the bottom of the frame to secure the win. The Rams tied the game on an RBI single by Justin Harris before Guerrero's three-run homer gave the lead back to ASU. Valasek, Harris, and Clark all had a two-RBI hit in the inning while McDaniel brought home three runs on a double to right center.
Valasek finished with six RBIs in the game, going 5-for-5 from the plate while Ryder finished with five RBIs.
Seth Foster tossed one inning of relief, not allowing a hit with two strikeouts.
GAME 2: UTT 8, ASU 5
The Rams put a run on the board in the first inning of game two as Clark hit a sac-fly to right field, scoring Harris on the play. Valased added to the lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run to left-center to make it 2-0.
In the fifth, the Patriots regained control, scoring five runs on three home runs in the inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Alezeah Gutierrez started in game two, throwing 4 2/3 innings with five runs on seven hits while striking out six batters.
UTT extended the lead to 6-2 in the sixth, scoring a run on a single to center field.
The Rams cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Guerrero singled to right field to score two before Tredaway hit a sac-fly to make it 6-5.
The Patriots added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, scoring on two RBI doubles to take an 8-5 advantage.
The Rams and Patriots will conclude the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
