SAN ANGELO, Texas – The 24^th-ranked Angelo State baseball team opened the final regular-season series with a victory, defeating fifth-ranked West Texas A&M 11-8 on Friday night at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
With the win, the Rams improve to 33-14, 31,14 in the Lone Star Conference while moving one game out of first place in the conference standings.
 
The Rams jumped out on top in the bottom of the first inning, putting up three runs as Conagher Sands and Tayten Tredaway hit back-to-back home runs to take the lead.
 
WT got a run back in the top of the third inning, scoring on a groundout to first.
 
The Rams answered back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring five runs as Tripp Clark hit a solo home run to left field before Blake Wilhoite capped off the inning with two RBIs on a single to left field.
 
In the fourth inning, the Buffs tallied another run on a single to center field to make it 8-2.
 
Braxton Pearson started on the mound, throwing 4 1/3 innings with six runs on 11 hits.
 
The Buffs continued to cut into ASU's lead, scoring four runs in the fifth on a two RBI single before a two-run homer brought WT within two.
 
The Rams got back on the board in the bottom of the fifth as Justin Harris bunted down the third-base line, scoring Kamden Kelton.
 
In the sixth inning, the Buffs added two more runs but the Rams answered back as Kelton hit a two-out double to score Weston Valasek and Sands to make it 11-8.
 
ASU held the Buffs scoreless in the final three innings as Johnny Stacy tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief with no runs on three hits and a strikeout as he earned the win to improve to 4-1 on the season. Earning the save was Caleb Heuertz who threw 2 1/3 innings without a hit while striking out the final three batters of the game.
 
The Rams and Buffs continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.