SAN ANGELO, Texas – Behind an eight run first inning and a season-high 16 strikeouts collected by the pitching staff, the top ranked Angelo State baseball team handled Eastern New Mexico by a final score of 18-9 on a warm Thursday evening at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.

With the win, the Rams extend their latest winning streak to six games as the record improves to 36-7 (34-7, LSC) while the Greyhounds fall to 26-17 (24-17, LSC).

Despite the huge lead early, it was the Greyhounds that struck first in the games opening frame as a hit-by-pitch and two straight singles scored the first run of the ballgame in favor of the visitors.

The Rams loaded the bases in the ensuing half inning before Weston Valasek forced a fielder's a choice to score Ethan Flodstrom and tie the game. Lane Hutchinson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for a second time before Brett Smajstrla drove a grand slam over the left field wall. After Blake Wilhoite doubled, Justin Harris and Ethan Flodstrom hit back-to-back home runs to make it an 8-1 ballgame.

Picking back up in the bottom of the fourth inning, a hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases once again for three straight singles from Lane Hutchinson, Tayten Tredaway and Smajstrla to hit three straight singles to extend the Rams lead to 11 runs.

After a quick two outs in the top of the fifth, the Greyhounds used a couple of home runs to cut the Rams lead in half and force out Rams starter Nick Wilson and forced a pitching change to Clayton Broeder who collected a strikeout to end the threat. Wilson's day concluded after giving up all six aforementioned runs off nine hits while collecting nine strikeouts.

After a quiet sixth inning, the Rams managed to get two runners in scoring position for Hutchinson to hit a groundball to the shortstop who proceeded to commit a throwing error that allowed both runners to score to push the lead to eight runs.

The Greyhounds battled back in the top of the eighth inning, hitting a three run homer over the left field wall that led to a pitching change to Scott Ellis, who proceeded to force a flyout to end the frame.

In the following half inning, the Blue and Gold drew four walks, the first to load the bases before the next three scored a run each to bring the game to its final score as Colby Casey was able to collect the sixteenth strikeout to end the ballgame.

The Rams will continue the series with a doubleheader against the Greyhounds tomorrow, Apr. 18 with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.