SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 2-ranked Angelo State baseball team continues Lone Star Conference action on the road this week as the Rams take on UT Tyler in a four-game series beginning on Friday.
 
#2 ANGELO STATE RAMS (11-1, 11-1 LSC) vs. UT TYLER PATRIOTS (8-4, 8-4 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., Feb. 24, 7 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat., Feb. 25, 3 p.m. | Game 4: Sun., Feb. 26, 1 p.m.
Irwin Field at the UT Tyler Ballpark – Tyler, Texas
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams took three games from UT Permian Basin on their way to their third straight series win to begin the year. Offense came easily for ASU, scoring 46 runs against the Falcons, led by Jordan Williams who recorded eight hits, two home runs, and drove in seven RBIs.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads the series 5-3
Last Meeting: May 12, 2022: ASU, 13-3 – San Angelo, Texas
The Rams have edged out the Patriots in the all-time series results, most recently winning in the quarterfinals of the LSC Tournament last season.
 
SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS:
The Patriots enter the weekend with an 8-4 overall record. UT Tyler split its last series, winning the first two games over Lubbock Christian before falling in the final two. The Patriots are the top hitting team in the Lone Star, holding a team batting average of .365 but rank middle of the pack in ERA at 7.03. UTT swept the series against St. Mary's while splitting against Oklahoma Christian to start the year.
 
Jordan Gochenour leads the LSC with a .512 batting average, ranking second in hits with 22, and has brought in 13 runs this season. Behind him is Austin Ochoa with a .442 average and 21 RBIs which is the second most in the conference.
 
NEW HIT KING AT ANGELO STATE:
After recording eight hits in last week's series, Williams became the career hit leader for the Rams, totaling 250 career hits.
 
MOVING UP IN THE RANKS:
For the second week in a row, the Rams have moved up in the NCBWA Top 25 Rankings, holding the No. 2 spot in Division II.

LEADING THE REGION:
The Rams came in at No. 1 in the latest NCBWA South-Central Regional Poll, earning all eight first-place votes. Behind ASU are Colorado Mesa and St. Edward's to round out the top three.
 
WEEKLY HONORS:
Williams was selected as the LSC Hitter of the Week for his performance against the Falcons. He is the second player to earn a weekly honor this season with Braxton Pearson earning Pitcher of the Week last week.
 
QUICK HITS:
-Thomas Cain ranks third in the LSC in batting average at .484.
-Cain also leads the LSC in on-base percentage at .614.
-Williams and Beck are tied for second in the conference in runs scored with 18.
-Beck leads the LSC in walks with 11 on the season.
-Beck and Cain are first and second in the LSC in stolen bases with nine and seven respectively.
-Kade Bragg holds the lowest ERA in the conference at 0.00 followed by Aaron Munson at 0.50.
-The Rams have the 12^th-highest batting average in Division II at .360.
-ASU has scored the fourth most runs in DII at 122 and is sixth in on-base percentage at .493.
-The Rams have 39 stolen bases on the year which is the fourth most in Division II.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 14 – Braxton Pearson, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Feb. 21 – Jordan Williams, Angelo State (Hitter)
 
CONFERENCE FAVORITES:
The Rams were selected as the favorites to take the 2023 LSC crown, earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 407 points, including 23 first-place votes. Coming in second was West Texas A&M followed by Texas A&M- Kingsville and Lubbock Christian.
 
NCBWA PRESEASON ALL-REGION:
The Rams had two players selected to the NCBWA Preseason All-Region Team, infielder Austin Beck and starting pitcher Aaron Munson. Beck was selected as the LSC Freshman of the Year last season after hitting .420 with 59 RBIs and 84 runs scored. He earned two All-American honors and led the Rams in stolen bases with 33. Munson led the Rams in wins a season ago, finishing with an overall record of 11-3 while collecting 81 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .277 hitting average while throwing 94 1/3 innings on the year.