TYLER, TX – The Angelo State baseball team was no-hit but still found a way to win Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the Lone Star Conference Championships.
A walk-off sacrifice fly from Payton Bush lifted the No. 2-seeded Rams to a 3-2 victory over No. 3 St. Mary's on a day ASU was outhit 8-0.
The Rams improved to 39-15 and advanced to the winner's bracket of the LSC Championship against No. 1 UT-Tyler at 3 p.m. Friday.
The Rams took an early lead in the first inning, capitalizing on St. Mary's defensive miscues. Blake Wilhoite scored the game's first run on a failed back-pick attempt before Gam Jones came home on an errant pickoff throw to give ASU a 2-0 advantage.
St. Mary's answered in the second inning with a solo home run off Angelo State starter Johnny Stacy. The right-hander struck out three in one inning of work before Garrett Baumann entered in relief.
Baumann delivered a dominant outing, working seven innings while allowing just one run on four walks and striking out four. The lone run against him came on the first pitch of the ninth inning, a game-tying solo home run.
Nick Gray recorded the final three outs to earn the win in relief and improve to 7-2 on the season.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jones reached on the Rattlers' fifth error of the game and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Chase Pendley advanced him to third on a groundout before St. Mary's intentionally walked Austin Beck and hit Brett Smajstrla with a pitch to load the bases.
Bush then delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Jones and sending the Rams into the next round.
It was the first time in the Rams’ history they were involved in a no-hitter.
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