Angelo State baseball books ticket to LSC championship game after convincing win
The Angelo State baseball beat second-seeded St. Edward’s 12-4 on Friday to advance to the Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship game.
After the win today, the Rams (46-8) are on a 14-game winning streak against the Hilltoppers (40-13) and increased their lead in the all-time series to 19-4 with their last loss coming in 2020. Like Thursday’s game against Lubbock Christian, Angelo State never trailed, but the Hilltoppers did tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the fifth. From that point on, the Rams outscored St. Edward’s 10-4 to end of the game.
Despite the slow start, coach Kevin Brooks was encouraged by how the offense performed.
“We scored in double digits again,” Brooks said. “I probably am not good at portraying the message, I think we’re second or third in the country in scoring runs. So, our offense is pretty good but we have a really high standard and you know, maybe sometimes I don’t think we quite get there.”
The Rams return to Foster Field at First Community Credit Union Stadium to face off against the winner of St. Edwards and Lubbock Christian at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday’s highlights
The Rams struck first when Jordan Williams scored on a wild pitch, while Justin Harris was at bat in the top of the second inning. The Rams scored again in the fourth on a sacrifice bunt from Justin Hardy to bring Austin Beck in for the run. The Hilltoppers tied the game at 2 in the fifth on a two-run home run from Kyler Kerlin. The Rams were the next team to score with three runs in the sixth coming from a Tripp Clark single to bring in Jacob Guerrero, a Hardy ground out that brought in Clark and Beck scoring on a passed ball. The Hilltoppers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a Gile single up the middle bringing in Lance Little and Conner Cox. The Rams scored seven unanswered runs by the end of the game highlighted by a Beck home run in the seventh.
Friday’s stars
Aaron Munson started on the mound for the Rams and picked up the win improving to 7-2 on the season. He tossed five innings with five strikeouts, giving up four runs on seven hits. Braxton Pearson came into the game in relief after a lighting delay and pitched three innings and gave up one hit. Beck went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and an RBI and Williams went 1 for 3 with a double and three RBI.
They said it
Coach Kevin Brooks on how his team faired against one of the best pitchers in the LSC in Luke Short: “Obviously facing one of the best pitchers in the country, we knew it was going to be a challenge and I thought we did good battling there. He obviously did a great job, but we were able to get the lead there early.”
Austin Beck on what he did during the lighting delay: “I just laid down in the locker room (and) tried to relax. I knew I was up next, so I just tried to calm my nerves and just hang out with the guys.”
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Angelo State baseball books ticket to LSC championship
