The Angelo State baseball team (18-13, 12-10 LSC) took both games from Central Oklahoma(7-13, 5-13 LSC), 13-1 and 9-2, Friday at Foster Field.
For the first time all season, the Rams took the first game of a four-game series and swept a doubleheader for only the fourth time all season.
ASU grabbed the lead in game one with two runs in the second on a two-run double by Jason Morriss, The native of Brisbane, Australia, was the hitting star of the afternoon for the Rams as he went 5-for-6 (.833) for the two games with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBI.
The Rams would build their lead to 5-0 with run in the third on an RBI-single by Clay Puckett and two in the fourth on an RBI-single by Isaac Garcia and an unearned run when Garcia stole second and came around on throwing errors by UCO catcher Arrow Cunningham and centerfielder Ryan Schoonover. ASU doubled its run production in the fifth on an RBI-single by Morriss, an RBI-groundout by Keith Towne and a three-base error with the bases loaded off the bat of Garcia.
The Rams would go up 13-0 on a bases-loaded, bases-clearing, double by Travis Lites. The Bronchos would get their only run of the game in the seventh on a ground-rule double by Luke Yost and an RBI-single by Casey Bruns.
Phillip Clinard, last week's LSC Diamond Pitcher of the Week, picked up where he left off last weekend with in improving his record to 3-2 on the season. The 6-3 right hander from Rockwall held the Bronchos to one run on four hits in 6.1 innings of work while striking out eight and walking none. Payden Bravenec tossed the final two-thirds of an inning and got a strikeout and a groundout to close out the game.
Game two saw the Bronchos get on top in the first inning on a leadoff single by Schoonover and a double to center by Yost. The Rams would go on top in their half of the frame on an RBI-single by Chris Adamson, a fielder's choice by Puckett and a throwing error by second baseman Corey Hawk which scored Adamson putting ASU up 3-1.
The Rams would double their run production in the second inning on an RBI-double by Dylan Petrich and Zak Leonhardt's team-leading fifth home run of the season putting the good guys up 6-0. ASU would add another run to its lead when Morriss touched home courtesy of the throwing error putting ASU up 7-1.
After the Bronchos closed out their scoring with a run in the sixth on an RBI-groundout by Brady White, the Rams closed out their scoring in the bottom of the seventh when Austin Lasprilla sent a two-run no-doubt home run over the left field fence to give ASU its 9-2 final.
The Rams used three pitchers in the nightcap and all three were in control. Chase Barrera started the game and went seven innings for the win, giving up the two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks for his second win of the season against one loss. After Barrera gave up a leadoff single to start the eighth, Jeremy Tietze came in a got Cunningham to hit into a 6-4-3 double play and Yost to groundout to second to end the eighth. Brett Kinsel pitched a near-flawless ninth, walking one batter but inducing a game-ending 1-6-3 twin killing.
The Rams and Bronchos will conclude their four-game series Saturday with another doubleheader at Foster Field. The first pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. and both games will be broadcast on KKSA 1260 AM with Judson Richards providing the play-by-play and Andy Way doing the color commentary. The game will also be carried on the internet at AngeloSports.com along with live stats.
