TYLER, Texas – The No. 2 Angelo State baseball team defeated No. 16 UT Tyler 10-8 to come back from two games down and secure the series split.

With the victory, the Rams and Patriots remain even with 6-2 records to be tied atop the Lone Star Conference standings.

For the first time in the series, the Rams struck first and went on to score the game's first seven runs beginning in the top of the second when Justin Harris singled to score Tayten Tredaway, who reached with a one-out single of his own. In the ensuing inning, the Blue and Gold plated four runs thanks to five singles, two stolen bases and a throwing error to extend the lead to five.

The Rams scratched a couple more runs across with a throwing error scoring Jacob Guerrero in the fourth who would then turn around and hit an infield single in the fifth to score Harris.

The Patriots threatened in the bottom of the fifth with three singles to load the bases with one out before Rams' starter Johnny Stacy collected a strikeout and forced a pop-up in the infield to escape the jam. Stacy's start ended after five shutout innings where he allowed six hits while striking out three on the way to his first pitching win of the season.

In the bottom of the sixth, UT Tyler drew three walks with two outs to load the bases to force out Keene Kreusler, who began the inning in relief of Stacy. Garrett Villa came in for Kreusler and was greeted by a bases-clearing double to left center. After a pitching change to Scott Ellis, the Patriots strung together a single and a wild pitch to cut the lead down to two runs.

ASU responded in the top of the seventh inning when Chase Pendley and Guerrero drew one-out walks to be aboard for Ethan Flodstrom to single up the middle to score both runners after an error by the Patriot center fielder. Tredaway followed with an RBI-single to make it a 10-5 ballgame.

UT Tyler matched with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Patriots took advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a fielder's choice to score on an error, a double and a single in three straight at-bats. Ellis then collected a strikeout to limit the damage.

Ellis came on to complete the three-inning save in the ninth but was relieved by Luke Olson after giving up a lead-off single. Olson then proceeded to collect two strikeouts and force a groundout to collect his first save of the season and end the ball game in the Rams' favor.

Angelo State will be back in action next weekend when they welcome the Sul Ross State Lobos into Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium for a four-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 14.