SAN ANGELO, Texas – For the second year in a row, the third-seeded Angelo State baseball team will open the first game of the NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship against sixth-seeded Southern New Hampshire beginning on Sunday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
 
#1 (3) ANGELO STATE RAMS (52-9, 40-8 LSC) vs.
#10 (7) SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE PENMEN (42-11, 23-1 NE10)
Sun., June 4, 12:30 p.m. CST | USA Baseball National Training Complex – Cary, N.C.
Tournament Central
Live Video: ncaa.com/game/6149644
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads 1-0
Last Meeting: June 5, 2022 – ASU, 7-4
Facing each other for the first time in program history during last year's championship tournament, the Rams came out ahead with a 7-4 victory.
 
SCOUTING THE PENMEN:
The Penmen advanced to the final site of championship after winning the East Regional, earning a 41-11 overall record on the year while going 23-1 in the Northeast 10 Conference. SNHU holds the third best ERA in Division II at 3.38 and rank 15^th in batting average at .327. Offensively, the Penmen average 9.6 runs per game which is the fourth highest average in Division II and have collected seven shutouts this season which is eighth in DII. Nick Schwartz leads SNHU at the plate with a .406 batting average along with 67 RBIs and 20 dobules. On the mound, Jeffery Praml holds a 11-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 97 innings pitched.
 
ROAD TO CARY:
After finishing the regular season with a 40-8 conference record, the Rams entered the Lone Star Conference Tournament as the top seed before sweeping the competition for their second straight LSC Tournament title. ASU went on to the South Central Regional tournament as the number one seed, defeating Metro State before taking two out of three games against UT Tyler to advace to the Super Regional. The Rams finally punched their ticket to Cary after sweeping Colorado Mesa at home, winning 8-2 before blanking the Mavericks 6-0 in game two.
 
QUICK HITS:
-The Rams rank fourth in Division II in both batting average (.346) and ERA (3.45).
-ASU ranks ninth in the country in doubles with 140 on the season.
-The Rams are the top fielding team in the country at .983.
-The Rams have been hit by a pitch 147 times this season which is the second most in DII.
-ASU's pitching staff allows 7.53 hits per nine innings which is the lowest average in DII.
-The Rams hold the second best on-base percentage in Division II at .461.
-ASU has scored the third most runs in DII at 578.
-With 61 sac bunts on the season, the Rams lead Division II.
-The Rams have stolen 198 bases which ranks second in Division II.
-Kade Bragg leads Division II with a 1.03 ERA and is first in wins with a 14-1 record.
-Austin Beck has recorded eight triples this season which is the fourth most in DII.
-Thomas Cain is 11^th in the country in stolen bases with 38 on the year.
-Jacob Guerrero is 12^th in DII in doubles with 23.
-Beck has also scored 78 runs this season which ranks 12^th in DII.
 
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)
 
WIN RECORDS SET:
Facing the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa in game two of the South Central Super Regional, the Rams held on to a 6-0 victory as Kade Bragg picked up his 14^th victory of the year, setting a new single season program record for wins.
 
It was also the 52^nd win of the season for the Rams which set a new program record.
 
RAMS SET PROGRAM RECORD FOR SHUTOUTS IN A SEASON:
After blanking Colorado Mesa in the final game of the South Central Super Regional, the Rams have tallied 10 shutouts this season which set a program record. The previous record of eight was set during the 2012 season.
 
Kade Bragg also picked up his fifth shutout of the season which set the individual single season record for shutouts.
 
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.