BOX SCORE

SAN ANGELO – Reggie Rodriguez drove in four runs and Michael Lange struck out five in 6.2 innings of work to help lead the Angelo State baseball team to a 9-5 Lone Star Conference win over Tarleton State on Sunday in the series finale at Foster Field.

ASU (27-15, 11-9 LSC) split the four-game series with the Texans (25-13-1, 14-6 LSC) and are now in third place in the conference standings behind TSU and Abilene Christian with two regular-season series remaining. The Rams, who will finish the regular season on the road at Cameron and Abilene Christian, finish their 2013 home slate of games with a 13-11 record.

“This was a very important game for us to win,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “It's disappointing that we didn't win the series, but I'm proud of the way we played today to get a split. We did a great job of competing and put hits together. It's a good way for our seniors to go out here at home.”

Lange (4-2) scattered five hits and worked through early wildness to improve to 13-3 in his career at Angelo State. The senior walked the first two hitters and threw nine straight balls to start the game before working through the Texan lineup for the win.

“You never want to see your starter walk the first two hitters of the game, but he did a great job settling in and throwing a great game for us,” Brooks said. “He gave us a chance to win which is exactly what he's done his entire career here. He throws strikes and competes.”

Rodriguez highlighted a five-run sixth inning for the Rams with a bases-clearing three-run double to left center field. The inning also included Quaid McKinnon hitting a solo home run to left field and Rodriguez scoring on a balk call. Rodriguez also had a RBI on a ground out in the second inning following his walk-off double in Saturday's 1-0 win.

“It's great to see Reggie come through in those spots,” Brooks said. “He has the capability to be a big force in our lineup and did that this weekend. Hopefully he'll stay on this roll.”

McKinnon finished the series with four hits, including two home runs. The senior is now hitting .333 on the season with three home runs, while Andrew LaCombe is hitting .366 after going 5 for 11 (.455) in his final series at Foster Field. Lee Neumann hit his third home run of the season with a shot to left center field to lead off the fifth inning, while freshman David Goggin and Hunter Choate had five hits in the series. Choate, who made four great plays at third base, went 2 for 4 in the game, while Tyler Coughenour had one hit – coming on his third bunt-single in the series.  

James Conlee relieved Lange in the seventh inning and recorded an out, while Austin Church, Graylon Brown and Bryant Rutledge also threw in the game. Brown and Church each had strikeouts for the bullpen which didn't allow a run.

Garrett Kelly (4-3) receives the loss for the Texans after allowing six runs on six hits in two innings of work in relief. Starter Troyal Yosko does not get a decision after striking out three and allowing two runs on two hits in three innings.

Ryan Small had two hits in the game for the Texans, including a solo home run to right center field, while Colten Boothe also had two hits.