CANYON – West Texas A&M was down to its final out and down two, but rallied to score three runs and take a 3-2 Lone Star Conference win over Angelo State in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Wilder Park.

The Rams (27-14, 15-13 LSC) fell for the second straight game to the Buffs (28-14, 18-10 LSC) by one run after falling 2-1 in the series opener on Friday. ASU is now 7-6 in one-run games and 23-3 after leading through six innings.

Nehwon Norkeh gave the Rams a 2-0 lead with his seventh home run of the season after Cody Semler led the inning off with a single. Norkeh's home run went to right-center field for his second opposite-field home run of the year and it gave a struggling ASU offense the lead in support of Blake Bass who was dominant on the mound. Bass struck out six in 6 2/3 innings and left the game after Aaron Blair started the WT rally with a two-out solo home run and then Jacob Caples singled in the bottom of the seventh. Bass, who received a no-decision, started the seventh inning with two flyouts before the Buffs mounted their comeback. 

With a one-run lead and Caples at first, ASU turned to Dillon Becker from the bullpen who hit the first batter he faced and then walked the bases loaded. Still with a one-run lead and needing only one out to secure the win, Graylon Brown entered the game and quickly got ahead of pinch hitter Jace Reese with two strikes. On a 0-2 count, Reese pulled a pitch through the left side of the infield to score two runs and give the Buffs their fourth win over the Rams this season.

Norkeh finished the game 2-for-4 with his two-run home run and a double, while Paxton DeLaGarza went 2-for-3 and Semler went 1-for-3. Becker (4-2) took the loss for the Rams after being charged with the winning run, while Sean Michel benefited from WT's rally by moving his record to 5-0 after throwing two scoreless innings after entering the game following Norkeh's homer.

The Rams now trail the season series 2-4 against the Buffs going into the series finale.