SAN ANGELO – Angelo State pitcher Blake Bass had seven strikeouts and limited Regis to four hits and one run through seven innings and Paxton DeLaGarza and Cameron Massengill each drove in two runs to help lead the No. 17-ranked Rams to a 5-1 win over the Rangers in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Foster Field.

The Rams (9-1) extended their winning streak to eight and their home record to 8-0 with the doubleheader sweep and will now look to sweep the series when the two teams meet for the finale at 11 a. m. on Sunday.  

"We need to close this series out," ASU head coach Brooks said. "It's going to be bad weather conditions and it will be a test of our mental toughness. We need to come out and finish the job and not use anything as an excuse. I like the way we played today but we can still get better."

Bass (3-0) picked up his third straight win after receiving a no-decision in his first start of the season and now has 21 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA to start his senior season. He allowed only one run off a fourth inning double by Logan Knox, but the Rams would score a run in the fifth when DeLaGarza grounded out to second base to score Sam Kohler who had reached on a bunt single.

With a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, the Rams broke the game open with three runs on three hits in the frame.  The inning started with a Cody Semler walk and a Hunter Spear bunt-single, but two quick outs brought DeLaGarza to the plate with the two runners needing a hit to come in. DeLaGarza delivered, going the opposite direction with a two-out double to right field and he was followed by Massengill who singled to left-center field to score DeLaGarza and Spear.

DeLaGarza finished the game hitting 2-for-4 with a double and single, while Spear went 2-for-3 and Massengill went 1-for-4 with his two RBI.  Matt Shannon finished off the game by going two innings without allowing a run. Shannon, who is a redshirt freshman, struck out one and allowed only one hit in his third appearance of his career.

The Rams have now held opponents to one run in the past five games and held the Rangers to five hits in the second game of the doubleheader.

Bryce Zak (2-1) is scheduled to start for the Rams in Sunday's finale against the Rangers and will be coming off a win over LCU last Sunday in his first start of the season. Zak, a junior from San Angelo, has a 1.93 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings this season.
 
Naemark establishes program record with 15 strikeouts in 2-1 win
 
SAN ANGELO – Steve Naemark recorded a new program record with 15 strikeouts and J.C. Snyder drilled the game-winning home run in the seventh inning to help lead No. 17 Angelo State to a 2-1 win over Regis in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Foster Field.

The Rams (8-1) were led by Naemark who cruised the Ranger lineup throughout the night, finishing with 15 strikeouts and allowing only three hits and one run in seven innings of work. Naemark (2-0), who had 12 strikeouts last Saturday against Lubbock Christian to tie the program record which was previously held by Rick Reyna (2012), struck out the first four hitters he faced and had 10 strikeouts through the first four innings.

"I really didn't feel like my off-speed was on today, but I felt in control of my fastball and had a lot of confidence out there," Naemark said. "I went out and worked with what I had and made sure to throw a lot of strikes. The strike outs are just happening for me right now. I considered myself a contact-pitcher when I got here, but I'm having a lot of fun with it right now."

ASU led the game 1-0 after Nehwon Norkeh scored in the first inning after he had led off with a single and then advanced home on a double play off the bat of Cameron Massengill. The Rams held their 1-0 lead until the seventh when Regis Aaron Byrniarski drove in a run on a fielder's choice. The tie game wouldn't last long though, as Snyder stepped up in the seventh and hit a two-out solo home run over the left-center field fence to give the Rams the 2-1 lead.

"J.C. really got into that one and gave us what we needed right then," Brook said. "To get one out on a night like tonight was pretty impressive. We've been getting big hits from a lot of different guys this season and J.C. stepped up once again. He had a lot of good swing tonight and is off to a great start to the season."

With a 2-1 lead, ASU turned to Trae Davis who came in for a two-inning save where he had three strikeouts and did not allow a hit. It was his first save of his career and preserved Naemark's historic day. Naemark finished the day throwing 109 pitches and getting two flyouts and three groundouts to go along with his 15 strikeouts. Naemark now has a 1.12 ERA and 38 strikeouts through four stars and 24 innings of work.

"He's changed the way he attack guys and has become a pitcher who can put up a lot of strikeouts now," Brooks said. "He has increased his velocity since the fall and has added power to his ability to get guys out."

Snyder extended his team-leading hitting streak to seven games after going 2-for-3 with the home run and a single, while Norkeh, Paxton DeLaGarza, Derek Tyner and Brett David each had singles for the Rams. ASU extended its winning streak to seven games with the win in the first game of the doubleheader and took its home record to 7-0.