SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 2 Angelo State baseball team return home to Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium to continue Lone Star Conference play when the Rams welcome in the St. Mary's Rattlers for a four-game series scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 28.

#2 ANGELO STATE RAMS (14-2, 14-2 LSC) vs ST. MARY'S RATTLERS (10-4, 8-4 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., Feb. 28, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat., Mar. 1, 4 p.m. | Game 4: Sun., Mar. 2, 1 p.m.
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium – San Angelo, Texas
Live Video: https://www.flocollege.com/teams/7920104-angelo-state-baseball
Live Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=ange

SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads the series 37-11
Last Meeting: Mar. 17, 2024: ASU, 17-12 – San Antonio, Texas
ASU have won 23 of the last 25 match ups dating back to 2017 while averaging nine runs a game against the Rattlers.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Blue and Gold increased the winning streak to ten games after securing the series sweep on the road against Oklahoma Christian this past weekend by a combined score of 37-11.

The Rams continued the hot bats at the plate as the team saw RBI hits from Justin Harris, Blake Wilhoite, Lane Hutchinson, Chase Pendley, Weston Valasek, Ethan Flodstrom, Tayten Tredaway, Austin Beck, Jacob Guerrero and Jaxon Weatherly.

On the mound, Alizeah Gutierrez twirled a gem in game three of the series, going the full seven innings facing just five batters above the minimum as he struck out nine on the way to securing his third career complete game shutout and his second against Oklahoma Christian. A couple of personal accolades were secured as Jude Cook notched his first career save in game one while Josh Reed acquired his first career win in the series finale.

MR. 800
With Sunday's victory, Head Coach Kevin Brooks secured win number 800 of his career. In his 21 years at the helm of the Rams' baseball program, he has collected an overall record of 800-354. His winning percentage of .693 ranks 24th all-time in Division II and is eighth on the list of active DII coaches.

SCOUTING ST. MARY'S:
St. Mary's enter the weekend sitting in fourth in the Lone Star Conference standing with an 8-4 conference record and 10-4 overall having won four of the last six games. Most recently, the Rattlers split a four-game series at home to Lubbock Christian before shutting out Our Lady of the Lake in non-conference action.

At the plate, the Rattlers are ninth in the conference with a .280 team batting average. The team has struck out 117 times, which is third most in the LSC. Jacob Elizondo jumps off the stat sheet as the player to watch as he leads the team in numerous categories including batting average (.411), on base percentage (.468), slugging (.589), hits (23), doubles (4) and runs scored (17).

The pitching staff has kept the Rattlers in many of ball games thus far as the team ERA of 3.85 is fourth-best in the conference while giving up the fewest hits (91). The Rattler depth is a strong suit as a total of 16 pitchers have been utilized this season. The only qualified starter according to the stats sheet is Sunday starter Hagen Rose who has not allowed an earned run in three starts this season. He sports a 3-0 record, a .67 WHIP, has collected 16 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .136 batting average in all three  of his starts where he completed six innings of work.

WATCH OUT FOR WESTON
Weston Valasek has tallied the first weekly accolade of the 2025 campaign for the Rams when he was named Hitter of the Week by the Lone Star Conference on Tuesday afternoon. Valasek, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, proved to be crucial in the Rams road sweep of Oklahoma Christian as he hit for a .500 batting average with five extra-base hits and had a .714 on-base percentage over the weekend.

While extending his hitting streak to 15 games, the Katy, Texas native had a 4-for-4 performance with a home run and two doubles in the series opening 10-8 victory and was responsible for the only two runs scored in the 2-0 shutout over the Eagles in game three. In the series, he scored seven times, drove in four runs and was hit by three pitches. He also stole a base and played errorless defense in centerfield.

RAMS IN THE RANKINGS:
Through the first four weeks of the season, the Rams have solidified No. 2 in the country according to the NCBWA, ABCA and D2 Baseball.

CONFERENCE LEADERS:
The Rams sit amongst top three in numerous teams categories in the Lone Star Conference including:

OFFENSIVE
- Batting Average (.392, 1^st)
- On Base % (.513, 1st)
- Slugging % (.588, 1^st)
- Runs Scored (173, 2^nd)
- Hits (195, 2^nd)
- Doubles (49, 1^st)
- Home Runs (15, 3^rd)
- Runs Batted In (155, T-1^st)
- Walks (93, 3^rd)
- Hit By Pitches (41, 1^st)
- Strikeouts (73, 2nd-Fewest)
- Stolen Bases (42, 1^st)

PITCHING
- Earned Run Average (2.90, 1^st)
- Shutouts (3, T-1^st)
- Saves (6, 1st)
- Runs Allowed (50, Fewest)
- Earned Runs Allowed (38, Fewest)
- Walks Allowed (50, 2^nd)

FIELDING
- Errors (11, Fewest)
- Fielding % (.978, Best)
- Double Plays (16, 3^rd)

PRESEASON CONFERENCE FAVORITES:
The Rams were selected as the favorites to take the 2025 LSC crown, earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 483 points, including 29 of the 39 first-place votes. Coming in second was Lubbock Christian followed by West Texas A&M, UT Tyler and St. Edwards to round out the top five.

PRESEASON HONORS:
Jacob Guerrero (Sr., OF, Colleyville, Texas, Accounting)
- D2 Baseball Second Team All-American
- NCBWA All-South Central Region Team
- Lone Star Conference Player of the Year

Caleb Heuertz (Sr., RHP, San Angelo, Texas, Business Management)
- D2 Baseball First Team All-American
- NCBWA All-South Central Region Team

Dax Dathe (Sr., RHP, Round Rock, Texas, Coaching, Sport, Recreation and Fitness Administration)
- NCBWA All-South Central Region Team