SAN ANGELO, Texas – The sixth-ranked Angelo State baseball team clinched back-to-back Lone Star Conference Tournament titles on Saturday as the Rams defeated West Texas A&M 10-4 in the championship game at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
The Rams improve to 45-10 overall on the season as they claim their fifth tournament title in program history.
Austin Beck was named Tournament MVP after hitting .692 in three games with nine hits, eight runs scored, and six RBIs. Also making the All-Tournament team was pitchers Benjamin Elder and Aaron Munson, outfielders Koby Kelton and Justin Lee, catcher Tripp Clark, and shortstop Justin Harris.
The Buffs struck first in the title game, hitting a two-run home run to take an early 2-0 advantage.
ASU answered back in the second inning, scoring four runs to take the lead. Clark brought in the first run on a sac-fly to center field before Beck singled to score Harris to tie the game. Kelton hit his second home run over the tournament, a two-run shot to right field to make it 4-2.
WT got one run back in the third, hitting a solo home run to come within one run of the lead.
The Rams kept up the scoring in the bottom of the frame as Kamden Kelton and Thomas Cain hit back-to-back RBI doubles before a home run by Justin Harris made it 7-3 in favor of ASU.
Jake Rogers started on the mound, throwing three innings with four hits and three earned runs before a lightning delay cut his day short.
The home runs kept on coming in the fourth inning as Beck hit a solo shot over the left-field wall. In the fifth, the Rams added one run on a throwing error by the Buffs before Koby Kelton singled to left field to extend ASU's lead to 10-3.
Kyle Mosely earned his third win of the season, tossing four innings in relief while giving up only one hit and a walk as he held the Buffs scoreless. Carson Childers closed out the game with two innings, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
With the automatic bid, the Rams will await the NCAA DII Regional selection show scheduled for 9 p.m. on Sunday on ncaa.com.