Click for box score

SAN ANGELO – Texas A&M-Kingsville jumped out quick with seven runs on Angelo State starter Bryce Zak and celebrated a 12-0 Lone Star Conference win over the Rams on Friday in the series and conference opener at Foster Field.

ASU (14-7, 0-1 LSC) was limited to four hits and lost its second straight game for the first time this season. Dallas Ponder (6-0) earned the win for the Javelinas after striking out five and scattering the four hits. Zak (3-1) receives the loss for the Rams after allowing seven runs on six hits. The Javelinas (16-4, 1-0 LSC) led 7-0 after two innings and would secure the run-rule win by adding three in the top of the eighth.

Reggie Rodriguez had two of the four Angelo State hits in the game with a second inning double and seventh inning single. Rodriguez now has 34 hits on the season and raised his batting average to .410. Andrew LaCombe and Quaid McKinnon added singles for the Rams who struck out six times in the game and only took three walks.

Ryan Greer, who is hitting .351 this season for ASU, had his 12-game hitting streak come to an end in the game but extended his reached-base streak to 13 with a walk. LaCombe now has the longest hitting streak with seven straight games with a hit.

Mason Leavitt recorded four strikeouts in two innings of relief, while Graylon Brown held the Javelinas scoreless in three innings of work. Brown had two strikeouts and worked about three walks and three hits in a 54-pitch effort.

Ben Villafuerte and Taylor Taska hit back-to-back home runs for the Javelinas in the fourth inning and led their team with three hits each. Joe Tallerine and Matt Perez each had two hits for the Javelinas who had 13 hits on the night.

Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville will return to Foster Field for a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. Mike Weatherly (3-2, 2.20 ERA) will start the first game for ASU with Jake Feckley (3-2, 3.50 ERA) set to make the start in the nightcap.

“We feel like we have guys who will go out there tomorrow and throw well to give us a chance to win,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “I'm not upset about this loss.”