SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 11 Rams baseball team earned a big Long Star Conference win in the series opener, completing a 6-0 shutout of Lubbock Christian on Friday night at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.

The Rams struck first in the second inning as Weston Valasek led off with a single up the middle and utilized his speed to score on a Conagher Sands' double to right center. They added another run in the third with a couple of ground outs to score Justin Harris who led off the inning with a double down the left field line.

Braxton Pearson started on the bump for the Blue and Gold and dealt for 3.2 innings as he gave up three hits and a walk while striking out four in his return to action. Austin Teel took over in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and only needed three pitches to end the threat. Teel pitched the next four innings allowing two hits and a walk while striking out a season-high six batters as he collected his first victory of the season.

Kam Kelton returned to the lineup in the series opener and contributed to the scoring in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single through the left side to score Tayten Tredaway, who doubled in the previous at-bat.

The momentum continued in the eighth as ASU added three more runs to the scoreboard as a couple of walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Eric Martinez when he hit a two-RBI single through the left side. In the ensuing at-bat, Ryder McDaniel scored on a wild pitch to bring the game to its final score as Johnny Stacy forced a couple of groundouts to end the contest.

The Rams will continue the series against the Chaps with a doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled at 4 p.m. in the confines of Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.