ALPINE, Texas – The No. 9 Angelo State baseball team returned to the win column with a 13-1 victory over Sul Ross State on Friday afternoon at the historic Kokernot Field.

With the win, the Rams improved to 4-3 overall and in Lone Star Conference play.

Angelo State set the tone early by scoring four runs in the first inning. Blake Wilhoite, Austin Beck and Brett Smajstrla loaded the bases before Garrett Wallace drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Chase Pendley followed with an RBI double, and Payton Bush added a sacrifice bunt to score Pendley and extend the lead.

Josh Reed earned the win in his third straight start, working 5 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and four walks while striking out four. Reed escaped his toughest test in the fourth inning after loading the bases, retiring the next three batters to keep Sul Ross off the scoreboard.

The Rams added three runs in the fifth as Christian Garnette, Gamaliel Jones and Wilhoite crossed the plate. Garnette later extended the lead with a solo home run to left-center in the seventh, his first of the season.

After scoring once in the eighth, Angelo State broke the game open in the ninth. Bush, Garnette and Jones loaded the bases before Beck cleared them with a double to right-center. Beck later scored on a double by Smajstrla.

The Lobos scratched a run in the bottom of the ninth before Ridge Morgan forced a popout to conclude the ballgame.

The Rams and Lobos continue the series with a Valentine's Day doubleheader Saturday at Kokernot Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.