KINGSVILLE, Texas – The No. 30 Angelo State baseball split its doubleheader (3-7, 9-7) with No. 27 Texas A&M – Kingsville on Friday afternoon at Nolan Ryan Field.
With the results of the two games, the Rams moved 24-15, 17-8 LSC to retain sole possession of first place in the Lone Star Conference. Starting pitcher Bryce Zak (7-2) was credited with the game one loss, while reliever Graylon Brown (4-4) earned his fourth win of the season. The Rams out-hit the Javelinas 8-7 in the first game and recorded three errors in the field. In the second game, TAMUK stroked 14 to ASU's 12 hits with the Rams only committing a pair of errors. Texas A&M – Kingsville finished the day with a 25-13, 16-9 LSC record. Game one Starter Preston Plovanich (4-1) earned the win and reliever Lance Elling took the game two loss for the Javelinas.
"The team bounced back in game two and we made some plays when we needed too," said ASU head baseball coach Kevin Brooks. "I was proud of the team. They showed their character in a gut check moment. We did do a lot of good things and made some smart plays."
In the top of the 10th inning, tied at seven with runners on second and third, Tyler Coolbaugh stepped up to the dish. On a full count, he singled through the right side to plate pinch runners Clay Wegner and Christian Abilla to give the Rams a two run lead. Brown would then come back out on the mound in the bottom of the inning to close the deal retiring two on strikes and forcing another to ground out to second baseman Sam Kohler.
Angelo State took the lead early as Elias Aguirre scored after he advanced to third on a wild pitch and the TAMUK catcher committed an error on the throw to third. The Javelinas then took over the lead as they placed three of their own runs on the board in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the second, Matt Waller pushed Steven Pinales across to make the score 2-3 with a ground out to second base. This was followed by Nathan Ruane slapping a RBI single to left to bring the score even at 3-3.
Ruane earned another RBI and gave the Rams the lead in the top of the fourth as he plated Jarryd Klemm on a fielder's choice. On the next play, with the score 4-3, Coolbaugh would cross as the TAMUK catch threw the ball to second to catch Ruane attempting to steal the bag. Then in the fifth, Jay Gonzales hit one of this three doubles for the day to score Paxton DeLaGarza and take a 6-3 lead. This was then followed by Coolbaugh scoring on a wild pitch in the sixth. However, a 7-3 lead did not daunt Texas A&M – Kingsville as they would rally with a four run seventh to force extra innings.
Starting pitcher Matt Shannon tossed 6 2/3 innings giving up seven runs on 12 hits and striking out nine. This was the sophomore's fifth game chalking up at least nine strikeouts. Brown entered in the seventh with a pair of outs on the board and completed the game throwing 3 1/3 innings. The senior out of Brownwood, gave up no runs on two hits and sat down four on strikes.
Playing first base for the first time this season, DeLaGarza led the offense with three hits for the game. Gonzales and Coolbaugh each recorded a team second two hits. Gonzales led the squad with two doubles, while Coolbaugh and Ruane lead with two RBIs each. Jarryd Klemm and Coolbaugh each crossed the plate a team high two times.
In the first game of Friday's doubleheader the Javelinas would strike first in the second inning, taking advantage of an ASU fielding error. The Rams would answer in the top of the third with a sac bunt by Elias Aguirre that plated Matt Waller. After TAMUK added another run to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third, Angelo State would bring the score back to an even two runs in the top of the fifth with an Aguirre RBI single down the left field line. Four batters later, the Rams would then take the lead when Nathan Ruane crossed off of a Javelina wild pitch. This would be the last time ASU would score for the game as TAMUK went on to cross six in the bottom half of fifth inning.
Zak pitched four innings giving up seven runs on four hits and striking out five. The senior surpasses the 100 strikeout mark for the season and is currently the pitcher with the most career strikeouts in program history (227). Joe Hauser and Jhonatan Del Rosario each entered in relief. Hauser tossed 1 1/3 giving up two runs on three hits, while Del Rosario only entered for 2/3 of an inning.
Offensively for the game, Pinales recorded a team leading two hits. Gonzales and Coolbaugh each added a double to their stats for the game. On the base paths, Waller led the Rams scoring a pair of runs and recording the only stolen base of the game.
The Rams return to Nolan Ryan Field in Kingsville, tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the final game of the series. This game will be broadcasted live on 1260AM KKSA, with Jeremy Bryant on the call.
