CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M dropped the Lone Star Conference baseball series opener on Friday night to the rival Angelo State Rams, 5-3 at Foster Field in San Angelo, Texas.
 
Angelo got on the scoreboard in the home half of the first inning as Payton Bush singled to left field with two outs to score Gamaliel Jones for the 1-0 lead. ASU added to their lead in the second on an Austin Beck two-run long ball to left center at 3-0.
 
The Buffs tied the game in the top of the third as Timothy Haynes and Luis Reyes were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded followed by a Tristin Thomas walk that made it 3-3. Angelo retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a Christian Garnette sac fly to right that score Brett Smajstria before Blake Wilhoite singled to left for the 5-3 lead.
 
Bryan Raitz picked up the loss (4-2) for the Buffs, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts in his 6.0 innings of work. Chase Weaver tossed a pair of scoreless frames out of the bullpen with three strikeouts.
 
The Buffs and Rams return to the diamond on Saturday afternoon with first pitch of a doubleheader set for 1:00 p.m.