Angelo State won the first two games of their series vs. LCU but were shutout in the third game and allowed Lubbock Christian to steal the win late in game four. No. 22 Angelo State is now 16-6 and welcomes The University of Texas at Dallas (14-7) to town for a four-game series this weekend. Here’s five takeaways from ASU’s series split.
1. A wild seventh inning powered the Rams to a 10-3 win.
Angelo State entered the bottom of the seventh inning down 3-1. ASU needed to make something happen with just a few innings remaining. Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time moments, and Angelo State’s batting lineup stepped up. Big time.
Brett Smajstrla hit a single to get on base, followed by a single from Tate Greene to give the Rams two runners on base and no outs. Smajstrla stole third base and scored from third when Garrett Wallace stepped up and tripled out to left field, speeding around the bases to third while Greene scored from first base. All of a sudden, ASU had tied the game up 3-3.
LCU made a pitching change, and pinch hitter Chris Bernal was hit by pitch (HBP) to get on base. Connor DiGesualdo took over for Bernal as pinch runner. Gamaliel “Gam” Jones bunted a single, batting in Wallace for ASU to take their first lead of the game, 4-3. Jones and DiGesualdo both stole to advance to second and third base respectively. Blake Wilhoite walked to first base, then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. DiGesualdo scored from third base during that same wild pitch.
LCU made another pitching change, then walked three batters in a row, allowing ASU to take a 7-3 lead. LCU made another call to the bullpen as ASU went back to the top of the lineup, sending Smajstrla back up to hit again.
Smajstrla hit a sacrifice fly to send Austin Beck home from third base. The Rams, with one out and two runners on, scored again when Greene hit a single, batting in first baseman Chase Pendley. Short stop Payton Bush stole home, giving Angelo State a 10-3 lead.
2. Ryan Cook locked down Lubbock Christian in game two.
Right-handed pitcher Cook held the mound for all seven innings in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Coach Kevin Brooks usually sends out at least two pitchers a game, but Cook stayed dialed in, throwing five strikeouts and only allowing one run.
At the top of the first inning, with two outs and two Lubbock Christian runners on base, the red-shirt freshman threw three pitches, nailing the strike zone with each pitch and sending LCU back to the dugout with their tails between their legs, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
3. Ten strikeouts were insufficient as the Rams lost game three.
Three Rams pitched for Angelo State in the second part of the doubleheader. Isaac Godard, right-handed pitcher for the Rams, got the start and pitched for two innings, throwing four strikeouts before allowing Lubbock Christian to score a pair of runs midway through the third inning.
Garrett Villa took over in the third and closed the inning out without allowing LCU to score again, but Coach Brooks decided to send out Luke Spencer at the top of the fourth. Spencer stayed in for the remainder of the game, striking out six hitters without a walk. He started off strong, with 2 strikeouts in the fourth inning alone, but a homerun in the fifth, giving LCU a 4-0 lead. The Rams were unable to generate at the plate, and LCU put an end to ASU’s eight-game winning streak.
4. The tied game fell to LCU in the end.
Angelo State went into the bottom of the sixth inning down 7-4 and started the inning off with two outs and no runners. Wallace singled, then stole second, and LCU walked the next two Rams to hand ASU loaded bases. Catcher Wilhoite stepped up after an LCU pitching change and was HBP, batting in a run for the Rams and leaving the bases loaded with Angelo State’s best hitter on deck.
Beck stepped up to bat and was hit with two strikes before he managed to get a hit off. His hit, a strong double into left center field, batted in Bernal and Jones, tying the game at 7-7 going into the seventh inning. Both teams went empty in the seventh, but Lubbock Christian smashed a homerun over the outfield fence for a pair of runs, giving LCU a 9-7 lead over the Rams.
Wilhoite was HBP on a full count to take first base. The catcher stole second, then third, before stealing home on an error, bringing the Rams to within one run. Unfortunately, Lubbock Christian responded to Wilhoite’s run with another home run, giving LCU an 11-8 lead they would take into the final inning. ASU would get two runners on base with one out, but were unable to capitalize as LCU sealed the game and handed the Rams a two-game losing streak.
5. The Rams received double digit HBPs.
Angelo State’s hitters continue to crowd the plate. The Rams were hit by pitch 11 times in four games against Lubbock Christian. The Rams lead the Lone Star Conference in team HBP with 59 in 22 games. Bernal and Beck were hit three times apiece, while Smajstrla and Wilhoite were hit twice each. Jones rounded out the bunch with a HBP of his own.
Bonus: ASU hangs on to the top seed despite back-to-back losses.
Angelo State fell seven spots in the DII baseball rankings, now sitting at No. 22, but still managed to hang on to the top spot in the Lone Star Conference. Tied with No. 14 The University of Texas at Tyler at 16 wins apiece, the Rams will look to rebound against 15-7 UT Dallas this weekend.