CANYON — When you're one of the best teams in the country, you get everyone's best shot.
This is nothing new for Angelo State, though, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation and is coming off of four consecutive appearances in the Division II World Series. Competing in the Lone Star Conference, the Rams play a tough schedule naturally, which makes a stellar 32-7 season record even more impressive for Kevin Brooks' squad.
On Friday night, ASU had to withstand a strong outing on the road against West Texas A&M, a LSC foe who was ranked in the top 25 earlier this year. The Buffs' took a 3-0 lead early in the game and looked to be on the verge of taking the series' opener at multiple points, but each time WT had an opportunity to close the door on ASU, the Rams responded with a clutch hit or defensive stop.
The ability to make plays in the game's biggest moments and respond when the game is on the line is a skill that Brooks has been trying to teach his teams for years, and it paid off during game one in Canyon.
Answering the call
Down 3-2 in the seventh inning, Angelo State needed a big play to get back in the game, and that's exactly what the Rams got from Ethan Flodstrom.
The senior outfielder smashed a two-run homer over the fence in left field to give Angelo State its first lead of the game. After WT responded with a score to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, senior infielder Tayten Tredaway blasted a three-run homer over the right field fence to put the Rams ahead 7-4 in extra innings.
"It goes back to, every game is the biggest game we play," Tredaway said. "If you play 50 playoff games, when playoffs comes around, it's ...
