ABILENE – Bryant Rutledge struck out nine Wildcats in eight innings of work helping Angelo State knock off ACU, 10-1, to open a three-game Lone Star Conference series at Crutcher Scott Field on Friday night.
The Wildcats fell to 12-6 on the season snapping a six game winning streak and to 5-5 in conference play. Angelo State meanwhile won their fifth straight as they improved to 12-7 overall and 9-7 in the LSC.
ACU got on the board early when
Aaron Oliver singled to lead-off the game and came around to score when
Will Calhoun singled him home for the Wildcat's only RBI. From there however, it would be all Rams.
Rutledge shut down the ACU bats scattering seven hits over eight innings. He struck out nine and walked three as he was dealt a comfortable lead by the third inning.
The Rams batted around the top of the third highlighted by a lead-off triple from Zach Cohen. Cohen would score one batter later when Travis Lites hit a ground ball to short allowing Cohen to score. Cohen would put an exclamation point on the inning with a solo homerun that was able to sneak just inside the leftfield foul pole.
ACU starter
Cameron Watten was chased to give way to
Chay Lytle after being knocked around for 8 runs on six hits. For Watten only five runs were earned as Lytle came in to get the final out of the third.
ASU would add two more runs in the fifth inning to make it a 10-1 lead. However, ACU would hold the Rams over the final four innings to keep the run rule from coming into effect.
The two lone bright spots for the Wildcats were four scoreless innings of work out of the bullpen by
Travis Schuetze. Schuetze only allowed one hit in four innings of work walking one and striking out four.
Will Calhoun continued to stay hot for ACU as the other bright spot going 3-for-4 with the only RBI.
The Wildcats and Rams will be for a double-header on Saturday to finish their three-game series at Crutcher Scott Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. with the second game to follow shortly at the conclusion of game one.
