LUBBOCK - The Angelo State baseball team scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning, but was unable to tie it and force extra innings, losing 5-4 to Lubbock Christian.
The Rams (7-3) stranded nine runners in the game while the Chaps (3-4) scored four of their five runs on balls that left the yard to win the game.
"I thought Shane pitched well, but the wind was blowing out and they hit three fly balls that got over the fence," Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks said. "Offensively we got some guys on but we just weren't able to get a hit when we needed to."
ASU took an early lead in the contest, as Nick Novak and Michael Urquidi worked back-to-back walks to start the game and cleanup hitter Jacob Boston drove the pair in with a double. It was one of two hits for Boston on the day, who increased his team-leading average to .385.
The Chaps quickly got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the first with Lubbock native Shane Browning working on the mound. The run was unearned after Mitch Henshaw bobbled a ball in right field.
Browning then kept the Chap bats quiet until the fourth inning, when a solo shot from James Hardberger tied the game at 2-2.
LCU then took the lead with another home run from Logan Nethercot in the bottom of the fifth inning. Nethercot's blast came with a runner on base, putting the Chaps' first lead of the day at 4-2.
What turned out to be an important insurance run for LCU was added in the eighth inning as Braden Heyward led off with another solo home run to push the lead to 5-2.
The home run ended Browning's time on the mound, but not before the senior turned in the longest outing of his ASU career while giving up seven hits and striking out a pair of Chaps.
Left-hander Kellen Rholl came in for his team-leading seventh appearance after Browning left the mound and struck out all three batters he faced.
Angelo State had just three outs left to try and win the game and the series in Lubbock and nearly completed the comeback.
Redshirt freshman Parker Bramlett pinch hit to begin the inning and doubled for the first extra-base hit of his ASU career. Elias Aguirre followed with a four-pitch walk and Novak was safe on a fielder's choice to load the bases.
Left-fielder Michael Urquidi drove Bramlett home when beat out an infield single to the shortstop. Aguirre came around to score as well, but did so on a double play from the Chaps to cut ASU down to its final out. Boston struck out to end the rally, handing the Rams their first back-to-back losses of the year.
Angelo State will now move on to face Colorado State-Pueblo in a four game series on Friday through Sunday at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium.
