SAN ANGELO, Texas – The third-ranked Angelo State baseball team will pause Lone Star Conference play as the Rams host two nonconference games against Southwestern on Tuesday and Wednesday.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams picked up a series sweep against Oklahoma Christian last weekend, winning their ninth straight game. ASU tallied 43 runs on the weekend while holding the Eagles to three or fewer runs in each of the four games.
 
#3 ANGELO STATE RAMS (21-3, 21-3 LSC) vs. SOUTHWESTERN PIRATES (9-2, 0-0 SCAC)
Game 1: Tues., Mar. 14, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2: Wed., Mar. 15, 6:30 p.m.
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium – San Angelo, Texas
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: 0-0
Last Meeting: N/A
This will be the first meeting between the Pirates and the Rams in program history.
 
SCOUTING THE PIRATES:
Members of NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, the Pirates hold a 9-2 record heading into the two-game series against the Rams. Southwestern opened the season with three wins over North Park and has won six of their last seven games.
 
As a team, the Pirates are hitting .280 on the season with Landon Durdin leading the team with a .469 average, collecting 15 hits and nine RBIs. On the mound, Southwestern holds a 3.25 team ERA.
 
LEADING THE REGION:
The Rams came in at No. 1 in the latest NCBWA South-Central Regional Poll, earning all eight first-place votes. St. Edward's moved up a spot in the poll to No. 2 followed by Colorado Mesa in third.
 
ATOP THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE:
The Rams hold the top record in the Lone Star, at 21-3 in conference play. In second is St. Edward's with a 14-5 conference record followed by West Texas A&M in third at 17-6.
 
QUICK HITS:
-The Rams hold the top batting average in all of Division II at .361.
-ASU ranks first in runs scored (240), fifth in hits (255) and ninth in doubles (50) in Division II.
-The Rams have the second-best on-base percentage in the country at .480.
-ASU's pitching staff holds a 3.29 ERA which leads the LSC and is 13^th in the country.
-The Rams have stolen 64 bases this season which ranks sixth in DII.
-The Rams average 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings which is the fourth-highest average in DII.
-Jacob Guerrero holds the highest on-base percentage in the country at .628.
-Austin Beck has scored the fourth most runs (35) and ranks fifth in walks (22) in Division II.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 14 – Braxton Pearson, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Feb. 21 – Jordan Williams, Angelo State (Hitter)
 
NEW HIT KING AT ASU:
Jordan Williams became the all-time hit leader for the Rams this season, surpassing 250 hits in his career.
 
WIN No. 700:
Against UAFS earlier this season, Head Coach Kevin Brooks tallied his 700^th win at Angelo State.
 
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.