SAN ANGELO, Texas – Returning home for a key Lone Star Conference series, the seventh-ranked Angelo State baseball team will face off against No. 14 West Texas A&M beginning Friday at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
LAST WEEK:
The Rams continued to dominate on the road as they swept all four games against St. Edward's in Austin. ASU held off a comeback by the Hilltoppers in game one, winning 11-9 in extra innings while Aaron Munson kept SEU scoreless in game three, winning 2-0, and earned LSC Pitcher of the Week.
 
#7 ANGELO STATE RAMS (27-7, 25-7 LSC) vs. #14 WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFS (27-7, 25-7 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., April 8, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat., April 9, 4 p.m. | Game 4: Sun., April 10, 1 p.m.
San Angelo, Texas – Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
Listen Live: kksa-am.com/sports/
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads the series 10-5
Last Meeting: May 29, 2021: ASU, 18-4 – San Angelo, Texas
The Rams command the series over WT, holding a 52-35 advantage. ASU has won three games in a row including two games in last year's South Central regional tournament.
 
SCOUTING WEST TEXAS A&M:
Ranked as high as No. 5 this season, the Buffs enter the weekend with a 27-7 overall record, going 25-7 in LSC play. Losing three of their last six games, the Buffs have fallen in the rankings to 14^th in the latest NCBWA Top 25. WT won its series over St. Mary's 3-1 while splitting against Lubbock Christian who was 19^th at the time in the most recent matchup.
 
The Buffs lead the conference in most offensive categories including batting average (.341), runs scored (330), hits (393), and RBIs (291). On the mound, WT is second in the conference in team ERA at 4.80, holding the most strikeouts combined at 334.
 
Ryan Johnson and Adam Becker lead the LSC in batting average at .433 and .416 respectively. Becker holds a league-high 60 RBIs while Johnson sits with 36 on the season. Nick Marshall holds a 7-1 record on the mound, tied for the most wins with ASU's Jake Rogers. Marshall has a 3.54 ERA in 48 1/3 innings while striking out 56 batters. The Buffs have also totaled 96 doubles which leads the country while also drawing the most walks in DII at 204.
 
QUICK HITS:
-The Rams move into the top 10 of the latest NCBWA Top 25 Rankings at No. 7.
-Aaron Munson was named the South Central Region Pitcher of the Week for the second time.
-ASU holds the sixth-best fielding percentage in the country at .977, leading the Lone Star.
-The Rams have been plunked 80 times this season which is more than any other team in Division II.
-With 296 runs scored, the Rams rank second in the LSC and 18^th overall in DII.
-The Rams have stolen 100 bases this season which is the third-most in the country.
-Aaron Walters is the ninth most walked batter in the country with 29 walks, leading the LSC.
-Rogers has seven victories on the year which is the fourth most in Division II.
-Benjamin Elder is fourth in the LSC in ERA at 3.12 through 52 innings of work.
-Austin Beck (16) and Justin Lee (14) are first and second in the conference in stolen bases.