Tyler --- The Rams baseball team stayed undefeated in conference play with a three-game sweep over the Steers of Texas College 10-6, 5-1, and 9-2. The Rams pulled ahead of #17 ranked Texas Wesleyan in the North Division who lost one game to Northwood University on Saturday.

In Game 1 senior right-hander Chris Tuttle (Austin, TX / Bowie HS) pitching 3 strong innings after allowing 4 runs in the first inning picked up his sixth win of the season. Tuttle allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts before giving way to senior Ross Chapman (Austin, TX / Bowie HS) who add 5 strikeouts and allowed 2 runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Travis O’Donnell (Austin, TX / Bowie HS) came to pitch the last two out of the ninth for his first save of the season.

The Rams scored one unearned run in the second before sending 5 Rams across home plate in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good and then added another 4 runs in the top of the ninth inning for insurance. O’Donnell led the Rams going 3 for 5 scoring 2 runs and knocking in 4 RBI’s with a single and two doubles. Jeremy Macklin (Austin, TX / Bowie HS) and Howard Limuel IV (Hutto, TX / Hutto HS) each added 2 RBI’s in support.

Game 2 had senior Travis O’Donnell (Austin TX / Bowie HS) went the entire distance of 7 innings recording his fourth complete game and fourth win of the season. O’Donnell allowed only 1 Steer to cross the plate and added 6 more strikeouts to move him into third place in strikeouts amongst Ram pitchers. Demetrius Colvin (Burton, TX / Burton HS), Macklin, and Limuel each had 2 hits to provide offense for the 5-1 win.

Game 3 had junior Jeremy Macklin pitching 7 strong shutout innings giving up 6 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 8 Steers keeping him just 2 K’s behind Tuttle in strikeouts for the 2008 season. Patrick Hines (Houston, TX / Prairie View A&M) went 3 for 3 with 4 RBI’s and 3 stolen bases. Also, collecting 3 hits each were O’Donnell and Ro’Shard Shorter (El Campo, TX / El Campo HS).

Recap of the Series:  O’Donnell and Hines were battling each other neck and neck collecting 6 and 5 hits respectively and 4 and 5 in the RBI'S and stolen base categories. Limuel also had 6 hits with 4 RBI’s while the Rams out scored the Steers 24 – 9.

Next Opponent: The Rams are at home at Downs Field for the last week of the season before traveling to UT-Brownsville to compete in the conference tournament. On Wednesday, April 16, starting at 3:00 pm, the University of Houston-Victoria comes in for a double header and then a three-game series with Paul Quinn College on Friday and Saturday will close out the regular season.