SAN ANGELO, Texas – After a week off, the top-ranked Angelo State baseball team got right back to business, defeating Texas A&M International in the opening game of the series 10-0 on Friday night at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
With the victory, the Rams improve to 12-2 on the year and 8-2 in Lone Star Conference play while the Dustdevils move to 6-13 overall and in LSC action.
 
The Rams started the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back doubles led off by Josh Elvir who hit one down the left-field line followed by a shot from Koby Kelton to give ASU a 1-0 lead.
 
It was a pitcher's duel for the next four innings as neither side allowed a run. Trent Baker started on the mound for Angelo State, who improved his overall record to 5-0 after tossing eight complete innings with allowing zero runs and five hits with eight strikeouts.
 
ASU added a run in the sixth inning as Jordan Williams led off with a single before advancing after a hit by Aaron Walters, and coming around to score on an error in the outfield by the Dustdevils. Walters extended the Rams' lead to 4-0 in the seventh, hitting a two-RBI double to right field, scoring Elvir and Reese Johnson in the process.
 
Angelo State collected 13 total hits in the game and finished perfectly in the field while Texas A&M International collected two errors and five hits in all.
 
The Rams put the game away in the eighth inning, scoring the first run of the inning on an error before a sacrifice fly by Elvir made it 6-0. Riley Peterson came in as a pinch hitter, hitting a shot down the left-field line for an RBI followed by another RBI single by Walters who finished with three in the game. ASU scored the final two runs as Tyler Mendoza pinch hit, earning a single to score Williams while Justin Lee forced a walk to bring in the game-winning run.
 
The Rams and Dustdevils continue the series tomorrow night with the first pitch set for 6 p.m. at Foster Field.