SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State baseball team downed Texas A&M – Kingsville, 10-9, in its home opener at the new and improved Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium on Friday night.
The Rams remain undefeated in Lone Star Conference play at 5-0 and improve to 12-6 overall this season with Friday's win. Angelo State scored 10 runs off of 12 hits and committed three errors in the field. The Javelinas fell to 10-5 on the season with the loss and pitcher Trey Taylor (1-1) was credited with the loss.
"I thought we played really good baseball tonight minus the sixth inning," Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks said. "We did the little things really well tonight. I was really proud of the way we came back and competed after being behind in the sixth. We did the things we had to do to win."
After TAMUK scored the first two runs of the game, ASU would answer. Designated hitter Christian Abilla beat out a single to third that pushed Tyler Coolbaugh across to score the Rams first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Steven Pinales tied the game at two when he was plated on a throwing error by the TAMUK second baseman.
In the fourth, Abilla hit a RBI ground out to third which allowed Coolbaugh to score putting the Rams ahead 3-2. Matt Shannon, after giving up two early runs, sat down Texas A&M-Kingsville without a hit for three straight innings. The offense responded with four runs in the fifth to build a 7-2 advantage.
ASU continued to capitalize off of TAMUK errors in the fifth as Nathan Ruane, Paxton DeLaGarza and Coolbaugh all crossed on throwing errors. Coolbaugh also added an RBI single to the mix to close out the fifth with a 7-2 lead.
The Javelinas rallied in the sixth scoring six unearned runs to take a 8-7 lead before ASU responded again. DeLaGarza drove a single through the left side scoring David Goggin on a hit-and-run. Sam Kohler also crossed on the play due to a fielding error by the Javelina left fielder regaining the lead for ASU, 9-8. The Rams final run of the game came off of a perfect bunt by Elias Aguirre down the third base line to score DeLaGarza.
TAMUK homered in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 10-9, but could not rally to regain the lead.
Graylon Brown, who came in relief in the sixth, was able to hold TAMUK to one run on two hits in 3 1/3 innings. The senior struck out five and improved to 2-2 on the year.
Goggin and Coolbaugh led the team with three hits each. Goggin added his sixth double to his season numbers. Abilla led the Rams with two RBIs. Coolbaugh, DeLaGarza and Kohler each stole a base as well.
The Rams return to Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium to continue its series with TAMUK with a doubleheader. First pitch is expected to be at 4 p.m. and will be preceded by the opening ceremony for the newly renovated Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium. Pitcher Bryce Zak is expected to receive the call for the game one start.
"I'm hoping to see this stadium packed tomorrow," Brooks said. "I hope we play an exciting brand of baseball tomorrow and get two wins."
