SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 3-ranked Angelo State baseball team returns home this weekend as the Rams face UAFS in a four-game series at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium beginning Friday.
 
#3 ANGELO STATE RAMS (13-3, 13-3 LSC) vs. UAFS LIONS (6-8, 4-8 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., Mar. 3, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat., Mar. 4, 4 p.m. | Game 4: Sun., Mar. 5, 1 p.m.
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium – San Angelo, Texas
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams split their first series of the year, taking two games from UT Tyler. Kade Bragg pitched a seven-inning shutout of the Patriots, collecting nine strikeouts while giving up only one hit to improve to 4-0 on the season. ASU scored 17 runs in the series with Jacob Guerrero collecting seven hits with three RBIs.  
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads the series 7-1
Last Meeting: Feb. 13, 2022: ASU, 8-7 – Fort Smith, Ark.
The Rams hold the series lead over the Lions, losing only one game in their eight meetings. ASU has won the last five straight meetings, sweeping the series on the road last year.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS:
The Lions hold a 6-8 overall record coming into the weekend, winning two nonconference games against East Central and Ouachita Baptist. UAFS is 4-8 in conference play, dropping two series against Oklahoma Christian and Lubbock Christian while splitting with St. Mary's.
 
The Lions rank last in the LSC in batting average at .231 on the season while the pitching staff holds the second-best team ERA behind the Rams at 4.15. Brayden Johnson and Jakob Petross rank third and fourth in the conference in ERA at 1.08 and 1.27 respectively. Matt Schilling leads the Lions at the plate with a .308 batting average with 11 RBIs off 16 hits.
 
LEADING THE REGION:
The Rams came in at No. 1 in the latest NCBWA South-Central Regional Poll, earning all eight first-place votes. MSU Denver moved up to No. 2 in the region followed by St. Edward's in third.
 
QUICK HITS:
-The Rams rank eighth in Division II in runs scored with 139 on the season.
-ASU has stolen the seventh most bases in DII with 43.
-The Rams averaged 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings which is 11^th in the country.
-Austin Beck ranks fourth in Division II in walks with 17.
-Bragg is tied for first in Division II in ERA at 0.00 and wins with four.
-Thomas Cain is fifth in the LSC in batting average at .422, and third in on-base percentage at .550.
-Beck has scored the fourth most runs in the conference at 22.
-Bragg leads the conference in ERA, opponent batting average (.111), and strikeouts (35).
 
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.