The No. 21-ranked Angelo State baseball team (1-1) opened the 2010 season with a doubleheader home split with Ouachita Baptist Saturday afternoon. OBU took the opener, 4-3, before the Rams claimed a 7-3 win in the night cap.
The Rams used a strong start by junior Phillip Clinard as they took a 2-0 lead after five innings of play. Clinard held the visiting Tigers hitless through four innings, facing just 14 batters, before giving up a hit to lead off the fifth frame. ASU gave Clinard a run in both the second, on an RBI single by junior Chris Adamson, and the fifth, as senior Clay Puckett scored on an OBU error.
OBU, however, would plate four runs in the top of the sixth, off of just three hits, as the Rams could not secure the win for Clinard, who left the game one out into the inning. The Rams would open the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off triple by senior Jason Morriss, who would later score, but could not come back for the win.
Clinard tossed 5.1 innings without a decision, giving up two runs, one earned, on just three hits. Senior Jerris Springfield (0-1) was handed the loss, giving up an earned run without recording an out in relief. Junior Chase Barerra tossed the final 1.2 innings, giving up one unearned run on one hit. Adamson ended the opener 4-for-4 form the plate with two RBI while junior Matt Lenderman went 2-for-4.
In the late game, the Rams plated a pair of runs off a single by senior Isaac Garcia in the first inning, but were again forced to play from behind as the Tigers scored two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to take a 3-2 advantage. This time, ASU quickly answered with a three-run sixth and a two-run seventh to secure the split.
Adamson would start the scoring in the sixth with a one-out solo home run, the first of the season for the Rams. ASU would also get RBI hits from juniors Zak Leonhardt and Travis Lites in the frame. The Rams added two runs in the eighth as senior Keith Towne would advance to second on a second on a single up the middle by Garcia and score on an error by the OBU centerfielder on the play. Garcia would later come home on a sacrifice fly by Morriss.
Senior Sean Winscher (1-0) picked up the win as he scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings of work, giving up two earned runs with a strike out. Junior Payden Bravenec tossed the final two innings for the Rams. Towne would go 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Garcia, Leonhardt and senior Austin Lasprilla each had multi-hit games.
The two teams will play another doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m. at Foster Field.
