San Angelo, TX – The Angelo State Rambelles series opener against the Midwestern State Mustangs was special for a couple of reasons. Not only did ASU end up winning by a Courtney Barnhill two run blast in the bottom of the sixth, but the win would also represent head coach Travis Scott's 800th in his career. Scott's coaching record now stands at an impressive 800-277-3.
The Rambelles first got on the board by taking advantage of charitable pitching after Avery Zeigler and Megan Gordon drew walks, and Maleys Burns loaded by bases after being hit by a pitch. Ashlyn Lerma came up big for the team by driving a double down the right field line, scoring two runners and advancing Burns to third. Lerma and Burns would be stranded on the bases, but the Rambelles ended the inning with a 2-0 lead.
The third inning scoring drive started much like the first one had, as Taegan Kirk drew a leadoff walk. It would be Zeigler, who had walked last inning, that came up to the plate and crushed a triple down the left field line to bring Kirk all the way to home. Angelo State now had a 3-0 lead over the Mustangs, and Meagan Hill was still perfect in the circle.
Both teams remained scoreless in the fourth, but the Mustangs evened things up in the fourth by exploding for three runs of their own. Following the scoring trend on the game, the Mustangs benefited from drawing two walks and a hit by pitch in the inning. A pair of doubles and a throw down that hit a base runner aided in the run production.
Now tied up at 3-3 the Rambelles only had two more opportunities to put more runs on the board. It would be Courtney Barnhill that saved the day by stepping up big in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ashlyn Lerma led off the inning by walking and then using her speed to steal second, collecting her 10th stolen base of the season. It was then that Barnhill blasted the decisive two-run home run over the left-center wall. It was her seventh deep ball of the season.
Meagan Hill was responsible for stifling the Mustangs offensive efforts as she threw for her second complete game in a row. After her complete game shutout against the St. Mary's Rattlers on Wednesday, the Salado native came out strong once more on Friday. Hill's final line was 7 innings pitched while giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking two.
Courtney Barnhill finished the game 2-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. The junior recorded a single and a two run homerun as she continues to bolster her offensive rankings on all levels.
Avery Zeigler was 1-1 at the plate with two walks, a triple, an RBI, and a run scored as well.
Ashlyn Lerma also had a big day at the plate going 1-2 and recording two RBIs on her double down the right field line that kicked things off for the Rambelles.
