SAN ANGELO, Texas – The second-ranked and top-seeded Angelo State baseball team will open the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament at home as the Rams host eighth-seeded Eastern New Mexico in a best-of-three series beginning Friday at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
#2 [1] ANGELO STATE RAMS (42-8, 40-8 LSC) vs. [8] EASTERN NEW MEXICO GREYHOUNDS (23-26, 21-26 LSC)
Game 1: Fri, May 5, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2: Sat., May 6, 4 p.m. | Sun. May 7, 1 p.m. (if necessary)
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: ASU leads 65-20
Last Meeting: Feb. 5, 2023 – ASU, 6-3
The Rams hold the advantage in the all-time series against the Greyhounds with a 65-20 record. ASU currently holds an 18-game winning streak against ENMU, sweeping the regular-season meeting earlier this season.
 
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS:
The Greyhounds earned the eighth seed in the conference tournament after finishing the season with a 23-26 overall record, going 21-26 in LSC play. ENMU has the fifth-best batting average in the conference at .319 but has struggled on the mound, holding a 9.10 ERA which ranks 12^th in the LSC.
 
Demetrio Archuleta leads the Greyhounds with a .371 batting average while Jonatan Clough ranks fifth in the conference in slugging percentage at .746 and has driven in the second must runs with 66 RBIs. Julian Lopez is 5-2 overall on the mound, throwing 53 1/3 innings with a 7.43 ERA while Ruger Bravo leads the team in strikeouts with 65 on the year.
 
POLL RANKINGS:
The Rams remain at No. 2 in the NCBWA Division II Top 25 poll while coming in at No. 4 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll.
 
LEADING THE REGION:
In the first official South Central Regional rankings, the Rams came in at No. 1 in the region. In second was Colorado Mesa followed by St. Edward's to round out the top three.
 
QUICK HITS:
-The Rams hold the fourth-best batting average in the country at .345 and rank seventh in ERA at 3.62.
-ASU is the top fielding team in Division II with a fielding percentage of .982.
-The Rams have been hit by a pitch 122 times this season which is the second most in DII.
-ASU holds the second-best on-base percentage in Division II at .461.
-The Rams have scored the seventh most runs at 475.
-Kade Bragg leads Division II in ERA at 1.11.
-With nine shutouts on the season, ASU ranks second in Division II.
-The Rams have stolen the fourth most bases this season at 157.
-ASU's pitching staff ranks sixth in Division II in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.3.
-Austin Beck is seventh in Division II in triples with six on the year.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 14 – Braxton Pearson, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Feb. 21 – Jordan Williams, Angelo State (Hitter)
- Mar. 14 – Aaron Munson, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Mar. 14 – Jacob Guerrero, Angelo State (Hitter)
- Mar. 21 – Kade Bragg, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Mar. 28 – Kade Bragg, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Apr. 25 – Jackson Berry, Angelo State (Pitcher)
 
RAMS SET PROGRAM RECORD FOR SHUTOUTS IN A SEASON:
After closing out the series against St. Edward's with an 8-0 win, the Rams have tallied nine shutouts this season which set the program record. The previous record of eight was set during the 2012 season.
 
RAMS SET PROGRAM SCORING RECORD:
In a non-conference game against Southwestern, the Rams defeated the Pirates 33-4, setting a new program record for runs scored in a game. The previous record of 29 runs was set in 2021 against McMurry.
 
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.