Rams knock off defending champion North Greenville to advance to semifinal

CARY, N.C. — The third-seeded Angelo State baseball team defeated second-seeded and defending champion North Greenville 6-2 at the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Tuesday.

Playing in the winner’s bracket of the 2023 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship, the Rams (54-9) and the Crusaders (50-10) went scoreless into the fourth inning until a Justin Harris single into right field brought in the first two runs of the game for a 2-0 lead.

North Greenville answered in the bottom of the fourth including a double and home run into right field to tie the game at 2-2.

In the seventh, Austin Beck led off with a bunt to get to first and advanced to second off a groundout before stealing third. Hardy brought Beck home on a bunt to give the Rams the 3-2 lead.

The Rams loaded the bases in the eighth inning as Harris singled before Jacob Guerrero reached on a throwing error and Tripp Clark forced a walk. The Rams added two more runs as Beck earned a walk and Jordan Williams was struck by a pitch to increase the Rams lead to 5-2.

Angelo State added another run in the ninth as Kamden Kelton led off the inning with a hit before bunts by Harris and Thomas Cain brought Kelton home for the final run of the game.

Reigning Division II Pitcher of the Year Kade Bragg collected his 15th win of the season after tossing eight innings, giving up five hits and two runs with eight strikeouts. With the Win, Bragg set a new Lone Star Conference record for wins in a season.

Scott Ellis pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits with a strikeout.

Beck was 1 of 2 with one run and an RBI, Kelton went 2 of 4 with one run and Harris went 2 of 3 from the plate with one run and two RBI.

The Rams advance to the semifinals of the championship tournament and will face the winner of sixth-seeded Southern New Hampshire and North Greenville at 6 p.m. Thursday.