ASU 2, Ouachita Baptist 0  •  ASU 4, OBU  1  •  VIDEO: Postgame comments

SAN ANGELO – Angelo State starting pitchers Michael Lange and Travis Stavinoha both threw five innings of shutout baseball with four strikeouts and led the Rams to a doubleheader sweep of Ouachita Baptist on Saturday at Foster Field.

Lange (1-0) allowed only four hits in a 2-0 win and Stavinoha (1-0)  three hits in a 4-1 victory as Angelo State improved to 3-0 and its best start to a season since beginning 2006 with a 4-0 record. The Rams have out hit the Tigers 30-16 through the first three games of the series and have outscored them 20-5.

“Our pitchers are going out and pounding the strike zone and we are making the routine plays behind them and we are getting some timely hitting throughout the lineup,” ASU head coach Kevin Brooks said. “It's a good combination for winning. It's been a good two days and hopefully it continues tomorrow.”

Toby Semler and Quaid McKinnon each had three hits on the day, while Ryan Greer, Jake Feckley and Brett Parsons each recorded two hits in the doubleheader. Parsons scored the Rams' first run on a double steal in the first inning. Semler had his hits in a 3-for-3 performance in the day's first game with McKinnon going 2-for-3 in the second game after singling in the opener. Feckley hit the Rams' first triple of the season in the 4-1 win and Greer stole a base to go along with his hits.

“We are all going up there and waiting for good pitches and hitting the ball really hard right now,” Greer said. “The entire team is being patient and having a great approach at the plate.”

Lee Neumann highlighted the Rams' three-run second inning in the second game with a double to the left-centerfield fence to plate Feckley. Neuamann would score on an error and Tate Allison added another run on Greer's single. Doug Snover scored the Rams' fourth run of the game after reaching base on a fielder's choice and coming in on a Parsons' single to left field.

James Conlee, who appeared in 28 games last season, pitched in both games on Saturday. The junior reliever faced the minimum in the first game with a strikeout, but gave up the day's only run in the second game. Michael Weatherly picked up the save in one inning of work that saw him walk two, but strike out three and strand OBU runners at second and third base in the opener. Feckley moved over from third base to finish off the Tigers in the day's final inning with two strikeouts.

Angelo State and Ouachita Baptist return to Foster Field for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Matt Rechkemmer will make his seventh career start in a Rams' uniform, while Josh Everett will start for the Tigers. Rechkemmer holds a 3-2 career record and has struck out 13 in 32.1innings of work.


Additional Quote

Michael Lange

On his pitching performance against Ouachita Baptist:
My slider wasn't completely on today, so I kind of had to fight with my pitches. I was able to spot my fastball pretty well to work out of a few things.