CARY, N.C. – The eighth-seeded Angelo State baseball team has clinched their second straight national championship title game appearance after defeating fifth-seeded Indiana (Pa.) in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship semifinals on Friday afternoon.

With the win, the Rams will face off against second-seeded Tampa, needing two wins to clinch the championship.

The action began in the bottom of the second inning with Blake Wilhoite and Ryder McDaniel drawing bases-loaded walks for the game's first two runs. After a throwing error scored a third run, Jacob Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to give the Rams a quick 4-0 lead.

The Rams tacked on an additional run in the third inning after McDaniel drew his second bases-loaded walk of the game.

IUP responded in the following half-inning with an RBI single through the left side for their first run of the game.
 
Braxton Pearson started on the mound for ASU, throwing four 1/3 innings of work, allowing one run on five hits and a strikeout.

The Rams struck back as Tayten Tredaway hit an RBI single in the fifth while Tripp Clark homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to six runs.

Johnny Stacy threw in relief for the Rams, tossing one 2/3 innings without a base runner and picking up a strikeout. Stacy has now pitched six 2/3 innings during the tournament without allowing a hit.
 
The Crimson Hawks added two runs in the top of the ninth, hitting a two-run homer to bring the game to its final score.
 
Also throwing in relief was Colby Casey who pitched three innings with two runs on four hits and three strikeouts as he earned his first save of the season.

First pitch for Saturday's championship game is set for 12:30 p.m. CST, with the if-necessary game beginning approximately an hour and half after the conclusion of the first.