Angelo State Rams suffer lopsided loss at College World Series
The Angelo State Rams suffered an 18-3 loss Tuesday to top-seeded North Greenville in their second game at the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, North Carolina.
The Rams trailed 5-0 by the second inning and 10-0 by the fourth inning as the game quickly spun out of control.
The Crusaders (52-10) hammered out 18 hits and drew nine walks. They also had five pitchers combine to hold the Rams' offense to just two hits.
No. 5-seeded ASU still has life in the double-elimination tournament, but the Rams will have to shake off the lopsided loss and work their way through the loser's bracket, beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday against No. 8 seed West Chester.
Similar to ASU's opening game at the World Series on Sunday, the Rams' starting pitcher was chased from the game in the second inning Tuesday.
ASU starting pitcher Aaron Munson allowed six hits and five runs in only 1.1 innings of work against North Greenville.
Unlike Sunday, however, there was no comeback or stellar relief performance waiting for the Rams.
ASU's second pitcher, Jake Rogers, gave up four more runs in two innings as North Greenville effectively ended the game with a 10-0 lead before the Rams had seen more than 10 at-bats.
ASU's only real chance at a threat came in the bottom of the sixth when the Rams scored three times and loaded the bases before being retired.
Jordan Williams had a two-run single, while Tripp Clark was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Crusaders immediately answered with six runs against Nate Hardcastle in the top of the seventh to extinguish any comeback hopes for ASU.
The Rams (51-13) had won 24 of their last 26 games heading into Tuesday. If they defeat the Golden Rams of West Chester on Wednesday, they'll advance to a rematch with North Greenville at 5 p.m. Thursday.
An if-necessary game would follow Friday for a right to play for the national title.
West Chester defeated Southern New Hampshire 7-3 earlier Tuesday in an elimination game.
On the other side of the bracket, Rollins edged Illinois-Springfield 3-2 in an elimination game Monday. Point Loma is waiting in the semifinals for the winner of Rollins and Southern Arkansas's game at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Angelo State baseball blown out by North Greenville at World Series
