TYLER, Texas – The No. 2 Angelo State baseball team split the doubleheader against the No.16-ranked Patriots of UT Tyler at Irwin Field.

With the split, the Rams rise to a 5-2 record while handing the Patriots its first loss of the 2025 campaign, dropping them to 6-1.

GAME ONE: UTT 6, ASU 2
UT Tyler struck first with all six runs in the first two innings. In the first, three straight two-out singles scored the first run and forced out Rams' starter Seth Foster. In the ensuing inning, the Patriots pieced together four hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to plate five runs off pitcher Clayton Broeder.

The Rams responded in the top of the third inning when Justin Harris hit an infield single. After stealing second, Austin Beck singled up the middle to score Harris and cut the deficit to five.

After closing the second inning, Ryan Free kept the Patriots off the board over the next four innings, allowing just seven hits and one walk while striking out three.

ASU scored its final run in the top of the sixth when back-to-back doubles from Ethan Flodstrom and Weston Valasek brought the game to its final score.

GAME TWO: ASU 4, UTT 2
For the third straight game, UT Tyler began scoring in the bottom of the first as a lead-off walk followed by a single and a throwing error scored the opening run of the ballgame.

The Rams responded in the third inning with Blake Wilhoite hitting a double down the left field line to lead off the inning. After Justin Harris laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, Chase Pendley hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game. With two outs, Jacob Guerrero singled to center field, Ethan Flodstrom was hit by a pitch to set up Weston Valasek to single through the right side to give the Rams their second lead in the series.

Alizaeh Gutierrez started on the mound for the Blue and Gold and delivered four innings of work where he allowed one earned run off five hits and a walk while striking out three to collect his first win of the season.

ASU added a couple more runs in the top of the fifth as three straight singles from Pendley, Guerrero and Flodstrom and a sacrifice fly from Valasek stretched the lead to three runs.

The Patriots threatened in the bottom of the seventh with four singles scored a run but a relay from centerfield recorded the final out to give Caleb Heuertz his first save of the season.

The series between the Rams and Patriots will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 9 with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Irwin Field.