CANYON, Texas – Ethan Flodstrom hit three home runs to lead the No. 1 Angelo State baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of West Texas A&M by a combined score of 25-10 at Wilder Park on a hot Saturday evening.

With the wins, the Rams improve to a 34-7 (32-7, LSC) record and take series against WT, who fall to 26-15 (24-15, LSC).

GAME ONE: ASU 6, WTAMU 5

The Rams began the day with two runs in the top of the first, starting with Flodstrom, who hit his first homer to lead off the ballgame. After a couple of groundouts, Weston Valasek hit an infield single and stole second before Lane Hutchinson hit an RBI single to right field. The Buffs answered with a run of their own with a two-out RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 2-1 contest.

In the top of the third, three straight singles from Chase Pendley, Valasek and Hutchinson tacked on another run for the Blue and Gold before Brett Smajstrla doubled down the left field line to extend the lead to four runs.

West Texas A&M was able to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth to force out Rams' starter Dax Dathe and scored two runs off relievers Keene Kreusler and Luke Olson before a lineout limited the damage.

Dathe turned in five complete innings where he was charged the three earned runs off four hits and three walks while striking out eight batters to earn the victory, improving to a 7-1 record in the season.

The Buffs threatened once again in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs and cutting the lead down to one before Scott Ellis forced a groundout, ending the ballgame and collecting his first save of the season.

GAME TWO: ASU 19, WTAMU 5

For the second straight game, the Rams struck first with six runs in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Lane Hutchinson and a two-RBI triple from Brett Smajstrla.

The Buffs cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second inning, taking advantage of a throwing error and four hits to score three runs off Alizaeh Gutierrez before he collected a strikeout to end the threat.

The Rams stretched the lead back out to seven runs in the top of the third as two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Flodstrom to hammer a grand slam over the right center field wall.

Gutierrez found himself in trouble again in the bottom of the third as back-to-back singles led to a two-out triple down the right field line to score both runners. However, they were not able to score the third as the hitter was thrown out at the plate in an attempt to register an inside-the-park home run. The senior's day was done after five innings, allowing all five earned runs off eight hits and two walks. However, the El Paso native did strike out five batters as he registered his first pitching victory since Mar. 1, going to a 4-1 record.

Flodstrom led off the top of the fifth with his third homer of the day, a solo shot over the left center wall to kick-start a three-run inning, which was followed by a two-RBI single from Weston Valasek to push the score to 14-5.

The Rams plated their last five runs in the final two innings, beginning with a Jacob Guerrero single, a Chase Pendley double, and a Lane Hutchinson single to score four runs in the top of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Guerrero hit a double to right-center field to score Luke Spencer, who pinch ran for Flodstrom after he hit a two-out single the at-bat prior.

The Rams will go for the series sweep of the Buffs tomorrow, Apr. 13, with the first pitch from Wilder Park scheduled for 1 p.m.

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