SAN ANGELO, Texas – The ninth-ranked Angelo State baseball team advanced to the second round of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament, defeating Arkansas Fort Smith in game three of the series at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams dropped game two of the series, 13-4 before bouncing back in the deciding contest, winning 10-1. They move to 36-7 overall on the season.
GAME ONE: Arkansas Fort Smith 13, #9 Angelo State 4
The Lions bounced back from a tough loss last night, jumping ahead in game two of the series with a solo home run over the left-field wall for the first run of the game in the top of the second inning. UAFS added two more runs off of back-to-back singles to take a quick 3-0 advantage.
UAFS's Foster Pace pitched well in the contest, shutting the Rams out through the first five innings of play. The Lions extended their lead in the top of the sixth inning, scoring five runs, including two off a single through the right side and a two-RBI home run to left field.
The Rams finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth as Aaron Walters hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Josh Elvir. ASU had another sac-fly in the seventh as Reese Johnson hit a shot to center field, scoring Jordan Williams. With the bases loaded, Walters was hit by a pitch for another run in the seventh, but the Rams were unable to capitalize further, down 8-3.
Benjamin Elder started on the mound for Angelo State, tossing 5 1/3 innings with seven runs off of eight hits and seven strikeouts, falling to 8-2 on the season.
The Lions put the game away in the eighth, adding four more runs with a two-RBI single to left field and another home run, a two-RBI shot to center field, forcing a game three in the series.
GAME TWO: #9 Angelo State 10, Arkansas Fort Smith 1
ASU turned things around in game two, opening the contest with a two-run homer to left field by Walters in the first inning.
Mat Szabo had a strong start on the mound for the Rams, retiring the first 10 batters at the plate with six strikeouts. He finished the day with five innings pitched, allowing one run off of two hits with six strikeouts, and tallied his third win of the season.
The Rams extended their lead in the fifth inning as Jackson Hardy hit a two-run blast over left field, giving ASU a 4-0 advantage.
UAFS got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, hitting a single to center field to cut the lead to three runs, but the Rams got the run right backing, hitting their third home run of the game, this time a solo shot by Nick Seginowich.
Homers continued for the Rams in the seventh as Walters hit his second of the game, this time a three-run home run to left field to go up 8-1.
Angelo State tallied its final two runs in the bottom of the eighth as Reese Johnson hit a sac-fly to center field followed by a bunt single from Hardy.
The Rams will wait for the LSC tournament field to finish up to determine next week's opponent. ASU and St. Mary's have already punched their ticket to the next round and will await the winners of Lubbock Christian vs. Texas A&M – Kingsville, and St. Edward's and West Texas A&M.
If West Texas A&M advances, the Buffs will host the second round in Canyon, Texas, but if St. Edward's can pull off a win on Sunday, the Rams will host the second round of the LSC tournament.
