OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. – The No. 20 Angelo State Rambelles advanced to the semifinal game of the Lone Star Conference tournament after defeating the St. Edward's Hilltoppers in the quarterfinal game, 9-4.
 
Makayla Corbin kicked the game off for Angelo State as she struck out the first two batters swinging while the final out of the first inning came from a fly ball out to the right fielder to bring ASU to the batters box.
 
Ashlyn Lerma hit a single out to deep center field, advancing to second after Ashlynn Box made it to first on a fielders choice. Courtney Barnhill grounded out to the third baseman, advancing Lerma into scoring position at third and putting Box on second base.
 
Madison Fernandez kicked things off for the Rambelles as Fernandez smacked a double out to left field, scoring Lerma and Box to bring Angelo State to an early 2-0 lead over the Hilltopppers. Keilei Garcia smashed a single out to center field and advanced Fernandez into scoring position at third. Mykayla Stroud smacked a double into left field, advancing Garcia to third and scoring Fernandez to extend the Rambelles lead to 3-0.
 
The Hilltoppers smacked a home run over the left field fence to cut the Rambelles lead to two in the top of the second, 3-1, but the Rambelles defense quickly took care of the Hilltoppers as the first out came from a sacrifice bunt from the third baseman to the second base. Corbin struck one batter out looking with the bases loaded, and the final out came from a pop up fly ball to the second baseman.
 
In the top of the third, Corbin and the Rambelle defense quickly squashed the Hilltoppers offensive attempt after one batter flied out to the left fielder, and the second out came from a ground ball hit straight to the pitcher. Corbin struck the final batter out swinging to give Angelo State another attempt to get their offense going.
 
Corbin went three up and three out as she struck two batters out swinging, while the final out came from an unassisted ground ball out to the first baseman.
 
Hatty Shope smacked a single out into deep left field, advancing to third as Haylie Mitchell reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman. Mitchell quickly stole second as Lerma came up to bat, where she smacked a single to the shortstop, registering an RBI as Shope scored a run for the Rambelles to bring ASU to a 4-1 lead over St. Edwards.
 
Box reached first on a fielders choice as Lerma advanced to second and Mitchell was thrown out at third. Barnhill smacked a single into deep center field to score Lerma from second and advancing Box to second. Box stole third and Barnhill stole second as Fernandez was walked to load the bases up as Garcia came up to bat for the Rambelles. Garcia was hit by a pitch, scoring Lerma to bring ASU to a 5-1 lead over the Hilltoppers.
 
 Avery Ziegler came in to pinch run for Fernandez, while Stroud hit a single into deep right field, advancing Garcia to second, Ziegler to third, and scoring Barnhill to bring Angelo State to a 7-1 lead over the Hilltoppers. Shope reached first on a fielding error from the second baseman, advancing Stroud to third and scoring Garcia and Ziegler to bring the Blue and Gold to a 9-1 lead.
 
The Hilltoppers managed to score three runs in the top of the fifth inning, smashing another home run over the left center field fence as Genesis Armendariz came in to pitch relief for Corbin. Armendariz struck a Hilltopper batter out with two runners on base and loaded the bases off of a walk. She struck another batter out swinging, while another walk scored a run to cut the Rambelles lead to 9-3. St. Edward's would score one more run to cut the Blue and Gold lead to five over St. Edward's before a ground ball to the second baseman brought Angelo State back to the batters box.
 
The Hilltoppers attempted to get their offense going in the top of the seventh inning, but Armendariz and the Rambelle defense proved too much for St. Edward's as Armendariz struck the first batter out looking, while the second out came from a ground ball to the pitcher. St. Eds managed to put two runners on base after hitting two singles into the outfield, but a second strikeout looking for Armendariz brought the Hilltoppers hopes of advancing in the tournament to an end as Angelo State defeated St. Edward's 9-4 in the quarterfinals of the LSC tournament.
 
"It was a good win today," said head coach Travis Scott. "St. Eds made us work for it. They wouldn't go away, but out girls kept responding to the challenge."
 
Key Players:

• Lerma had four at-bats, scoring two runs and registering three hits, one RBI and two stolen bases against the Hilltoppers.
• Box had four at-bats, scoring two runs and stealing one base for Angelo State.
• Barnhill had four at-bats, scoring one run and registering one hit, one RBI and stealing one base.
• Fernandez had two at-bats, scoring one run and registering one hit, two RBI, and one double for ASU.
• Corbin pitched for four innings, throwing six strikeouts and facing 18 batters.
• Armendariz pitched for three innings, throwing five strikeouts and facing 18 batters as well.

 
Up Next:
The Rambelles continue LSC Tournament play as Angelo State will play the winner between the No. 3 seed Texas A&M-Commerce and the No. 6 seed Texas A&M International Dustdevils in the semifinal match on Friday, May 14 at 4 p.m.