SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The No. 18 Angelo State University baseball team clinched its Lone Star Conference series with a doubleheader sweep of No. 23 St. Mary's, winning 11-1 and 7-5 on Saturday at Dickson Stadium.
The Rams improved to 13-4 overall and in conference play.
GAME 1: Angelo State 11, St. Mary's 1
The first four innings featured a pitching duel, as neither team broke through early.
Ryan Cook kept the Rattlers off balance, tossing five shutout innings. The redshirt freshman allowed one hit and two walks while striking out two to earn his second win of the season.
Angelo State broke the scoreless tie in the fifth.
Kannon Brooks and
Gamaliel Jones drew walks, and after a sacrifice bunt,
Austin Beck lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.
Chase Pendley followed with an RBI single to score a second run. Pendley later stole second and scored on a St. Mary's throwing error to make it 3-0.
The Rams added two more runs in the sixth on another Rattlers error and a sacrifice bunt by
Blake Wilhoite.
In the seventh,
Brett Smajstrla hit a three-run home run to extend the lead to nine. After loading the bases, Jones and Wilhoite each drove in a run to cap the scoring. St. Mary's plated a late run before
David Dressendorfer induced a game-ending groundout.
GAME 2: Angelo State 7, St. Mary's 5
The Rams carried their momentum into the nightcap, scoring the first seven runs of the game. They opened with three runs in the first inning, highlighted by
Chase Pendley, who drove in three runs on two singles. Smajstrla added an RBI groundout and a solo home run — his second homer of the day — while
Tate Greene contributed an RBI single and reached on an error that allowed
Payton Bush to score in the third.
Isaac Godard made the start and delivered the longest outing of his Angelo State career, pitching 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on two hits and five walks while striking out two.
St. Mary's rallied with five runs over the final three innings, but
Jude Stephens recorded a strikeout to end the game and secure the series.
The Rams will attempt to complete the sweep Sunday, March 1. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Dickson Stadium.
