SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No.11 Rams baseball team will pause Lone Star Conference action when the Rams face off against Wayland Baptist on Tuesday, March 26 at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.

#11 ANGELO STATE RAMS (22-11, 21-11 LSC) vs. WAYLAND BAPTIST PIONEERS (17-13, 7-2 SAC)
Game 1: Tue., Mar. 26, 3:00 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 the four-game series against Lubbock Christian at home over the weekend. The two wins limited the Chaps' bats to only three runs scored with a combined shutout by five pitchers including Braxton Pearson and Austin Teel in game one along with a 12-strikeout performance turned in by Dax Dathe in game three.

SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 22, 2021 – ASU, 22-4
The Blue and Gold last faced off against the Pioneers in a nonconference series back in 2021. ASU swept the three-game series as they scored an average of 16 runs a game while limiting WBU to just seven runs.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
As a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Wayland Baptist boast a 17-13 record which includes a 7-2 record in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). Tuesday will not be the first time the Pioneers will face a NCAA Division II opponent this season as they have split a four-game series against Adams State of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) in late February.
At the plate, WBU is hitting a .301 team batting average with a .415 on base percentage. Their lineup is highlighted by the long ball as Samuel Fabian has hit nine of the team's 38 home runs thus far while also leading in stolen bases with 16. Delvis Claudio, who has hit five home runs of his own, leads the team in total extra base hits with 11 doubles and two triples.
On the mound, the Pioneers have a team ERA of 5.80. Tyson Potts highlights the Pioneer rotation with 44 strikeouts in 38.2 innings across eight starts. Nathan Baca's 1.27 ERA leads the team as he's pitched 28.1 innings in seven appearances coming out of the bullpen.
QUICK HITS
- Tripp Clark leads the conference in batting average (.462), hits (55) and RBIs (52) while being second in OPS (1.260) and triples (4).
- Jacob Guerrero leads the LSC in doubles (17) while his 1.293 OPS puts him in third in the LSC
- Tayten Tredaway's 16 doubles is second behind Guerrero in the LSC
- Weston Valasek has been hit by a pitch 22 times this season which not only leads the conference, but also DII.
- Dax Dathe's 65 strikeouts continues to lead the conference while…
- Alezeah Gutierrez is second behind Dathe with 51 strikeouts of his own


SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 12 – Tripp Clark (Hitter)
- Mar. 4 – Dax Dathe (Pitcher)
- Mar. 11 – Alezeah Gutierrez (Pitcher)
- Mar. 19 – Jacob Guerrero (Hitter)

NCBWA SOUTH CENTRAL REGION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 12 – Tripp Clark (Hitter)
- Mar. 4 – Dax Dathe (Pitcher)
- Mar. 11 – Alezeah Gutierrez (Pitcher)
- Mar. 19 – Jacob Guerrero (Hitter)

NCBWA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
- Mar. 20 – Jacob Guerrero (Hitter)
 
CONFERENCE FAVORITES:
The Rams were selected as the favorites to take the 2024 LSC crown, earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 503 points, including 38 of the 39 first-place votes. Coming in second was UT Tyler followed by St. Edwards and Lubbock Christian.

NCBWA PRESEASON ALL - AMERICANS:
The Rams had four players selected to the NCBWA Preseason All-American Team, earning First-Team honors was outfielder Jacob Guerrero who was also selected as the 2024 Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year. Being named to the All-American Second-Team is starting pitcher Braxton Pearson, who was named Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and catcher Tripp Clark. Rounding out the honors is utility man Austin Beck who was named an Honorable Mention.