CANYON, TX – Five home runs led the No. 1-ranked Angelo State baseball team to a series sweep of West Texas A&M by a final score of 23-4 on a warm Sunday afternoon at Wilder Park.
With the win, the Rams sweep the Buffs in a regular season series for the first time since 2016 and the first time in Canyon since 2006. Furthermore, ASU improved to 35-7 overall (33-7 LSC), while WT fell to 26-16 (24-16 LSC).
Action began in the top of the second when Weston Valasek scored on a wild pitch, Justin Harris hit a two-RBI double and Jacob Guerrero hit a three-run homer to jump ahead to a six-run lead.
The Blue and Gold added eight more in the ensuing inning, highlighted by a couple of two RBI doubles from Ethan Flodstrom and Lane Hutchinson to make it a 14-0 ballgame.
A three run home run given up by starting pitcher Ryan Free allowed West Texas A&M to cut Rams lead down to 11 runs. Free allowed an additional run in the bottom of the fifth before forcing a flyout to end the inning and completing his start, where he allowed six hits and a walk while striking out seven to improve to a 3-1 record.
The Rams scored nine more runs across the ballgame's final three innings. In the top of the fifth, two, two-run homers off the bats of Valasek and Brett Smajstrla scored four runs. Chase Pendley and Lane Hutchison had RBI hits to score three runs in the sixth. Lastly, Christian Garnette and Justin Harris hit back-to-back solo homers to bring the game to its final score as Josh Reed delivered two scoreless innings to finish the ballgame.
ASU will return to action when it hosts Eastern New Mexico in a four-game set beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
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