Rams go two-for-two in series against Chaps

The Angelo State University Rams baseball team had a tug-of-war with the Lubbock Christian University Chaps, alternating between a victory and a loss two times for a total of two each. The Rams took a 6-0 win on Friday, March 22, a 5-10 loss and a 10-3 win on Saturday, March 23, and another 10-15 loss on Sunday, March 24. Following their wins and losses, the Rams overall standing was left at 22-11.

Friday night's game saw a slow first inning, followed by the first run of the night by junior outfielder Weston Valasek in the Rams’ second inning. The Rams’ third inning saw them reach a 2-0 lead with redshirt sophomore infielder Justin Harris taking home plate from a ground out. The following couple of innings saw no progress made by either team until the sixth inning, as a single by junior infielder Kamden Kelton gave junior infielder Tayten Tredaway the opening to reach home plate from third for a 3-0 lead. The Rams’ eighth inning saw a run by Tredaway from second base and by sophomore center/infielder Blake Wilhoite from third base, reaching a 5-0 lead. The final score of 6-0 would be reached by freshman infielder Ryder McDaniel, scoring on a wild pitch, marking the Rams’ first win.

Saturday afternoon's first game’s early innings saw the Chaps lead, scoring the first run on a home run. Shortly afterward, the Rams took the lead with runs from third base by Harris, Valasek, junior outfielder Jacob Guerrero and senior infielder Conagher Sands for a 4-1 lead. The Chaps’ second inning kicked off with a home run for a 4-2 score. The Rams’ second inning saw them reach a 5-2 lead with a run by Guerrero from third base. The following inning saw the Chaps take the lead with three runs for a 5-6 score. The game came to a standstill in the following innings, as the sixth inning saw a home run by the Chaps for two runs, placing them at a 5-8 lead. Later, in their sixth inning, the Chaps scored two more runs for the final 5-10 score, marking the Rams’ first loss.

Saturday's second game saw a strong start, with the Chaps’ first inning seeing the first run of the game, soon followed by a 1-1 tie with a run by Harris in the Rams’ first inning. The Rams took the lead shortly afterward, with a run by Guerrero and one by senior center fielder Tripp Clark for a 3-1 lead. The Rams’ second inning saw them take a stronger lead with three runs by sophomore outfielder Hunter Holt, Wilhoite and Guerrero from third base for a 6-1 lead. The Chaps made some progress as they secured two runs from third base to home, reaching a 6-3 score in their third inning. The Rams’ fourth inning saw Guerrero secure another run from third base, leading 7-3.  After an uneventful fifth inning, the Rams made major strides in the sixth inning, with Guerrero, Clark and Valasek all scoring again for the final 10-3 score for the Rams' second win against the Chaps.

Sunday's game saw the Chaps take the lead in their first inning with a home run, shortly followed by a run from third base for a 0-2 lead. The Chaps would take a greater lead in the second inning as they scored two more runs for a 0-4 lead. The Chaps’ third inning saw them score two more runs from third base for a 0-6 lead. The Rams’ third inning saw them finally put some points on the board with two runs by Holt from second base and McDaniel from third. The following inning saw no change, with the Rams' fifth inning having Guerrero score once again for the Rams, reaching a 3-6 score. The Chaps’ sixth inning saw them reach a 3-8 lead with two runs from third base to home. The Rams followed up with a run by McDaniel and Kelton in one play, narrowing the Chaps’ lead to 5-8. Shortly afterward, Harris managed to reach home plate from third base, placing the Rams 6-8. The Chaps kicked it up a notch in their seventh inning as they went on to put four more runs on the scoreboard via three home runs. Their eighth inning saw them gain more ground with three more runs, securing a 6-15 lead. With Holt on third base, a flyout by Valasek gave him the opening to reach home plate, placing the Rams at a 7-15 score.

The Rams’ ninth inning saw three runs by junior center fielder Christian Garnette, redshirt sophomore outfielder Rance Rosas and Harris for a final score of 10-15, marking the Rams’ second loss to the Chaps.

With their losses and wins against the LCU Chaps, the Rams were left with a 22-11 overall standing. The Rams will face the Wayland Baptist University Pioneers on Tuesday, March 26 at home.