Angelo State baseball advances to the NCAA Division II National Championship

CARY, N.C. —  The third-seeded Angelo State baseball team will make its second NCAA Division II National Championship appearance after topping sixth-seeded Southern New Hampshire University 5-3 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Thursday.

The Rams (55-9) shut out the Penmen (44-13) through eight innings to advance to the National Championship for the first time since 2007. Angelo State awaits the winner of fourth-seeded Rollins and fifth-seeded Cal State San Bernadino on Friday.

How it happened

The Rams struck first in the second inning when Austin Beck got the first hit of the game on a single to center field. Beck stole second and then advanced to third on a balk. Jackson Hardy bunted and reached first on the fielder’s choice, but Beck beat the tag at home to go up 1-0. Hardy stole second and a Justin Harris single to centerfield brought Harris home to extend the lead to 2-0.

Neither team scored until the fifth until Jacob Guerrero hit a triple with Thomas Cain scoring another run from second. Tripp Clark sac flied to center which brought in Guerrero for another run and extended the Rams lead to 4-0.

Thursday's stars

Braxton Pearson started on the mound for the Rams and tossed five innings of work giving up three hits with one strikeout. Caleb Heuertz took the mound in relief.

Tripp Clark tripled as the lead-off batter in the eighth and a Williams sac fly brought in the last run for the Rams at 5-0.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Penmen bats came alive when Daniel Rivera singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then, Anderson Moreno singled up the middle as Rivera advanced to third.

Coach Kevin Brooks took Heuertz out of the game after he pitched for three innings giving up two hits and two runs with two punchouts.

Scott Ellis came in to close the game for the Rams on the mound, but Mike La Rocca doubled down the left field line to bring in two runs for the Penmen. A Cam Caraher fly out to center field brought La Rocca home to squeeze the Rams lead down 5-3.

Ellis then got his first strikeout and the Rams second out. And ultimately a grounder to Beck at second closed out the game for the Rams.

Ellis finished the game earning a save after tossing one inning while giving up two hits and one run with one strikeout.

What's next

As the only unbeaten team remaining in the tournament, Angelo State will need to be beaten twice and receive an extra day of rest with Thursday’s win. The first pitch of the National Championship is scheduled 12:30 p.m. Sunday.