SAN ANGELO, Texas – The top-ranked Angelo State baseball team clinched the Lone Star Conference Baseball Tournament Championship on Saturday, May 10, with back-to-back wins over St. Edward's at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams (45-8) made history in the process, becoming the first team since the current playoff format was established in 2012 to win the tournament after emerging from the loser's bracket.
GAME ONE: ASU 11, SEU 0
The opener was defined by dominant pitching and steady offensive production. Right-hander
Nick Wilson delivered a complete-game shutout, allowing just two baserunners and striking out six to improve to 7-0 on the season.
Justin Harris sparked the Rams in the third inning with a leadoff single. After a double by
Ethan Flodstrom moved him to third,
Jacob Guerrero drove in the game's first run with a groundout. A throwing error on a
Chase Pendley grounder allowed another run to score, giving ASU a 2-0 lead.
The Rams doubled their advantage in the fifth with a two-run double by Harris and a sacrifice fly by Flodstrom. A five-run sixth inning put the game out of reach, highlighted by RBI doubles from
Lane Hutchinson and Guerrero, enforcing the run-rule.
GAME TWO: ASU 12, SEU 9
St. Edward's came out aggressive in the nightcap, loading the bases in the top of the first and forcing an early pitching change. Reliever
Josh Reed escaped the jam with a flyout to end the threat.
The Hilltoppers struck first with a two-run homer in the third, but ASU responded in the bottom half with a Guerrero RBI single that scored Harris, who had reached on an error. Harris and Flodstrom then pushed the Rams ahead in the fourth with a bunt single and RBI base hit, respectively.
St. Edward's answered with a six-run fifth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double that led to another pitching change. Angelo State began to claw back with a
Weston Valasek RBI double in the fifth.
In a pivotal seventh inning, The Rams erupted for eight runs in the frame, capped by Pendley's go-ahead single and RBI hits from Tredaway and Hutchinson to make it 12-8.
The Hilltoppers mounted one final push, loading the bases in the eighth.
Clayton Broeder came out of the bullpen and struck out three straight batters to shut the door. Though SEU managed an RBI double, Broeder induced a pop-up to end the game and secure the championship.
Following the games, seven Rams were named to the LSC Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team. Pendley earned Most Valuable Player honors, while Wilson,
Austin Beck, Hutchinson, Harris, Valasek and Flodstrom also received recognition at their respective positions.
Angelo State now awaits the NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 11, at 9:30 p.m., when they will learn who will face in the South Central Regional.
