SAN ANGELO, Texas – The ninth-ranked Angelo State baseball team opened up the Lone Star Conference Tournament with a big win over seventh-seeded Arkansas Fort Smith, winning at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium on Friday night.

The Rams opened the game up in the seventh inning, scoring seven runs to take quick control of the game. Jackson Hardy brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly to center field while Josh Elvir followed up with a two-RBI single up the middle to score Reese Johnson and Koby Kelton. Nick Seginowich capped off the inning with a three-RBI home run over the left-field wall before Jordan Williams brought in the final run of the inning with a double to the right side.

The Lions made their first noise of the game in the third inning, hitting a two-RBI single to center field to make it 7-2.

Elvir tallied his third RBI of the game in the third inning, hitting a double to left field to score Jackson Hardy. The Rams added another run in the bottom of the fourth in a similar fashion as Kelton doubled down the left-field line to give ASU a 9-2 lead midway through.

ASU's offense continued to shine in the fifth inning, adding four more runs as Aaron Walters singled for the first run followed by back-to-back sacrifice flies by Novak and Williams. Thomas Cain collected his first RBI, hitting an infield single to score the final run of the inning. Novak's sacrifice fly brought in the 172nd RBI of his career, setting a new program record.

Trent Baker started on the mound for the Rams, throwing six innings while allowing only two runs off of seven hits with six strikeouts. He picked up his 12th win of the season which ties for the best in all of Division II while also tying the program's career strikeout record with 272 strikeouts.

The Rams added to their lead in the sixth inning as Walters hit a solo home run with one out. Cain hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Seginowich followed by an RBI single by Kelton and a two-RBI double by Parker Bramlett.

In the bottom of the seventh, Riley Peterson hit ASU's third home run of the game, a solo shot to center field, while Cain hit another infield single to score Charlie Bartlett.

UAFS added a run in the top of the ninth, scoring on a groundout to second base.

Christian Watson, Kyle Moseley, and Landon Schirer all pitched one inning of relief, combining for one run off of two hits.

The Rams and Lions will continue the best-of-three series tomorrow with game two at 1 p.m. If UAFS wins, game three will follow with the winner advancing to the second round of the LSC Tournament.