LAREDO, Texas – The No.18 Rams (25-12, 23-12 LSC) baseball team swept the doubleheader against Texas A&M International (18-23, 18-21 LSC) behind the pitching performances of
Braxton Pearson and
Alezeah Gutierrez.
GAME ONE: ASU 5, TAMIU 2
Jacob Guerrero started the scoring in the game's opening frame with a solo home run over the left field wall. TAMIU responded with a home run of their own in the bottom of the second to tie the game. The Rams retook the lead in the third with contributions from
Justin Harris,
Jacob Guerrero and
Tripp Clark to score three runs.
Braxton Pearson started on the bump for the Blue and Gold and delivered five strong innings, allowing two runs, one earned, off three hits while striking out three as he collected his second win of the season.
Both teams traded runs in the sixth as
Kamden Kelton singled through the middle of the field to score
Conagher Sands, who reached with a one out single. While the Dustdevils took advantage of a defensive miscue to get runners in scoring position for a sacrifice fly. The damage was limited by
Caleb Heuertz, who relieved Pearson and collected a strikeout to complete the sixth and went on to finish the game.
GAME TWO: ASU 5, TAMIU 0
ASU picked up where they left off from game one as
Justin Harris, Jacob Guererro and
Tripp Clark loaded the bases for
Conagher Sands as he drew a walk, Kam Kelton as he grounded out and
Tayten Tredaway as he hit a sacrifice fly to make it a three-run lead after the opening frame.
Blake Wilhoite added another run in the second with his first home run of the season.
In the fourth,
Weston Valasek drew a one out walk and after a sacrifice bunt by Wilhoite,
Justin Harris singled to left field to extend the lead to five runs.
Alezeah Gutierrez took the mound for the Rams in game two and tossed a complete game shutout where he allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three as he collected his sixth win of the season.
The Rams will look for the series win in the finale against the Dustdevils on Sunday, Apr. 7 with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.