Rams are on to nationals!

            After a very successful weekend the Colorado State Rams were able to sweep regionals and punch their ticket to the big dance in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The Rams would clinch this spot-on commanding wins against Iowa State and University of Iowa. Here is an overview of how all the games shaped out for the Rams this past weekend in Kearney, Nebraska.

            Game one of the series was a face off against Iowa State University. The Rams were unfazed as they took it to the Cyclones by a score of 10-0 in seven innings. The offense was led by many players but Brandon Delay and Matt Smith stood out the most. Delay went 3 for 4 with three doubles and recording 2 RBI, while Matt Smith also recorded a 3 for 4 day while bringing in 2 runs himself. The pitching was taken over by Phelan Castellano. Castellano was masterful in his performance on Friday night as he went seven strong innings giving up no runs on three hits while striking out six batters. This would give the Rams a 1-0 start to the tournament and would take on Iowa University in the next game.

            Game two was a contest between the Rams and the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Rams would emerge victorious again by a score of 13-2 against the Hawkeyes. Game two’s starter was Jared Van Vark. Van Vark went six innings giving up two earned runs and striking out six batters. He was relieved by Brad Johnson who went one inning and Ryan Wargo who went one inning as well. The offense had quite a day as three Rams went deep in the game. Brandon Delay and Mack Morford both hit solo shots in the game and in dramatic fashion, Matt Davis hit a three-run bomb over the right field fence to initiate the mercy rule and solidify the Rams victory by a score of 13-2.

            Game three was the championship game, the Rams would play University of Iowa once again due to the tournament being double elimination. The game started rough for the Rams as they gave up four runs early in the first inning but the Rams would turn it around very quick as they would put up a four spot of their own in the bottom of the inning. The offense was led by Trevor Bruton and Jake Walker, Bruton recorded two hits and brought in three runs while Walker recorded a double that brought in two runs of his own. The starting pitcher for the game was Clint Watt, after a rough first inning Watt locked in and went six strong innings giving up five earned and striking out one. He was relieved by Brad Johnson who gave up one run and struck out two and Mark Singleton who went two innings giving up zero runs and striking out two in the process. The final out was a ground ball to Matt Davis which punched CSU’s ticket to the NCBA world series tournament.

            The Rams are going to be ranked number two out of eight in the National tournament in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The tournament begins May 26th with your Rams facing off against Texas State at 2:45pm. Stay tuned for more updates regarding Rams baseball.