ABILENE, Texas – The Cameron Aggies baseball team (26-13, 18-10 LSC) jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back as they took the opening game from Lone Star Conference rival Abilene Christian, 9-6, on the road on Friday night.

Ricky Cramer (6-3) picked up the win on six complete while allowing three runs on seven hits. The senior struck out two batters and walked three. James Rhodes added his fifth save of the season after closing out the game with the final two outs.

After three innings, the Aggies had jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind strong hitting from shortstop Joe Halley who went 2-for-5 at the plate with four RBI including a two bagger in the first to plate the two initial runs of the game.

The big inning for the Ags came in the second as back-to-back hits from Andrew Garcia and Halley plated four runs to make it a 6-0 ball game.

In the third, Kaleb Brawner pushed a hanging pitch out to right field for a sacrifice fly to bring in P.J. Ortega for what proved to be the winning run.

Up 7-0, Kenny Held stroked a single through the left side to bring in Brad Blumer to make it 8-0 in the fourth.

In the fifth, CU plated what their final runs as the nation’s top home run and RBI hitter, Chase Larsson, laced a double to left field to drive in Kaleb Brawner to go up 9-0.

The Wildcats (23-19, 15-13 LSC) plated three runs in the bottom of the frame to start their rally and make it 9-3.

ACU added three more in the final two innings but that was as close as they could get as Rhodes induced a double play to close out the game.

The two teams return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon in a scheduled 1 P.M. first pitch. The twinbill is a crucial set for both teams vying for LSC postseason play.