GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Angelo State Rams are one win away from the NCAA Division II College World Series after scoring 11 unanswered runs to earn a 15-7 win over Colorado State-Pueblo on Sunday at Suplizio Field.
The Rams (40-16) are currently in action against St. Mary's with the winner advancing to the World Series. Go to www.twitter.com/AngeloSports for in-game updates and media links.
Miles Gully (1-0) earned the win after throwing 5 1/3 innings of relief and
Sam Kohler went 3-for-5 with five RBI and
Paxton DeLaGarza went 4-for-5 with three RBI which included a three-run home run to highlight a five-run eighth inning for the Rams. ASU trailed 7-2 through three innings, but pecked away with two runs in the fourth and sixth innings before erupting for five in the eighth and four more in the ninth.
"I never felt panicked," ASU head coach
Kevin Brooks said. "I felt like we were going to be able to score runs, but we just had to find a way to shut them down. We found that in Miles and he gave us a great effort. He's worked his tail off ever since he got here and was ready for this opportunity. Our offense got going and now we're ready for the next one."
Gully, who had not pitched since May 2, allowed only three hits and did not allow a run, while
Steve Naemark and DeLaGarza threw the final two innings.
"I was just trying to throw zeroes up there on the scoreboard to give our team a chance," Gully said. "I got my off-speed ahead early in counts and it worked out. I was really pumped up in this position. My entire goal was to keep us in the game because I knew that we were going to score runs and come back."
J.C. Snyder went 2-for-5 with three RBI and
Nehwon Norkeh also had three RBI on two hits, including a two-run double in the sixth to center field. ASU outhit the ThunderWolves 17-10 in the game. CSU-Pueblo's season ends with a 41-16 record, while the Rams will now face the Rattlers in the championship game. The game will start at approximately 5:30 p.m. (CDT) and fans can follow the action through links on AngeloSports.com.
"This is going to be a great game between two teams that have played a lot of great games throughout the years," Brooks said. "I don't know exactly what this game is going to be like, but we need to come out scoring runs and keep at it. This group has shown a lot this season and I'm confident that they're going to leave everything out here to try and get the win. We're going to use everything we have to advance."
