SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 12 Angelo State baseball team opened the Lone Star Conference Championship with a 14-4 run-rule victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday afternoon at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
With the win, the Rams improve to 37-14 overall record and 18-10 at home, extending their winning streak to 10 games.
Angelo State set the tone early, manufacturing a run in the first inning on a double steal by
Austin Beck and
Blake Wilhoite. The Rams' aggressive approach on the bases continued throughout the game, as they recorded a program-record 13 stolen bases.
The Rams added to their lead in the second inning.
Tate Greene drove in a run with a single to left field before
Jordan Kelly and Gam Jones followed with RBIs of their own.
Payton Bush extended the advantage with an RBI single, and Greene capped the inning with another RBI knock to give ASU a 7-0 lead.
Texas A&M-Kingsville got on the board with an RBI single in the fourth, but the Rams quickly responded. Bush pushed the lead to eight runs with a two-run sacrifice fly.
Luke Spencer earned the start for ASU, tossing five strong innings. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits while striking out two to improve to 4-0 on the season.
After the Javelinas added a run in the sixth, the Rams broke the game open. Bush recorded his fourth RBI of the contest with a single to left-center field, followed by RBI singles from
Hunter Holt and Chris Bernal. Greene added two more RBIs with a single through the left side, finishing with a team-high five RBIs.
Kingsville scored twice in the seventh, but
David Dressendorfer closed the door with a strikeout to secure the run-rule victory.
The Rams will look to clinch the best-of-three series against the Javelinas on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
