SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday with Texas A&M-Kingsville, winning 13-3 before dropping the third game of the series 7-3 at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams (25-8, 7-3 LSC) exploded offensively in the first game against the Javelinas (20-9, 6-1 LSC) for their first win in the series. ASU will now need a win in the series finale to earn a series split.
TAMK got on the board first on the day with two runs off ASU starting pitcher Ryan Smith in the top of the first inning. ASU went down in order in the bottom half of the inning, but began their offensive onslaught in the bottom of the second.
Outfielder Steven Pinales led off the inning with a double and promptly score when Jacob Boston followed with an RBI single. The next two Ram batters reached on errors from Javelina fielders. Nick Novak and Nate Ruane followed with singles of their own, and Matt Waller also had a single in the inning. Overall, ASU got six runs in the inning to jump out in front.
The lead was pushed out wider in the third inning as Boston led off with a walk and Tyler Coolbaugh followed with a single. Novak singled later in the inning and Ruane followed with a double of his own. The game was just the 11th Ruane has appeared in this season, but he went 3-for-3 with a walk and four RBI.
Angelo State had another three-run inning in the fourth and got one more run across in the sixth to reach its total of 13 for the day, topping the Javelinas 13-3.
Blake Barr got the ball on the hill for the mound in the second game, making just his second start of the game. Barr went three innings against the Javelinas, giving up just one run and striking out a pair of batters.
The Rams scored first in the game in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Tyler Coolbaugh sparked the offense with a single. Jay Gonzales followed with a single of his own and Nick Novak was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter, Jonathan Soberanes, walked to bring home the run.
ASU scored again in the bottom of the third when Matt Waller tripled down the left field line with one out. Boston followed with a walk and then Steven Pinales singled to score Waller.
The Javelinas took the lead in the in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, increasing the lead again in the fifth with another four runs.
In the bottom of the seventh, ASU brought across one final run, but was unable to complete the comeback, losing 7-3.
The Rams and Javelinas will play the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
