SAN ANGELO, Texas The top-ranked Angelo State baseball team's road to return to Cary, N.C. will begin on Thursday, May 13 when the Rams host one half of the South Central Regional, welcoming back St. Edward's and Lubbock Christian to Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.

Double-Elimination Tournament Schedule
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium
All times CT
Thursday, May 15
Game 1: [5] Lubbock Christian vs. [4] St. Edward's, 2 p.m.
Game 2: Loser of Game 1 vs. [1] Angelo State, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 16
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner/Loser of Game 2, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 17
Game 4: TBA vs. TBD, 2 p.m.
Game 5 (If Necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 6 p.m.

Live Video: FloCollege
Live Stats: Angelostats.com

LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams found themselves with their back against the wall after dropping the night cap versus Lubbock Christian in day one of the Lone Star Conference Tournament last Thursday. However, the team made history, defeating UT Tyler in a 12 inning thriller, getting revenge on the Chaps before taking down St. Edward's twice on championship Saturday to become the first team, in the current playoff format (debuting in 2012), to win the tournament coming out of the elimination bracket.

The home crowd saw several stellar pitching appearances from the Blue and Gold including one from every starter in the regular season rotation:

Dax Dathe vs LCU: 6 IP, H, 2 BB, 9 SO
Alizaeh Guttierrez vs #5 UTT: 8.1 IP. 2 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 SO
Ryan Free vs LCU: 5.1 IP, H, 6BB, 2 SO
Nick Wilson vs SEU: CG, SHO, 7 IP, H, BB, 6 SO

Furthermore, the bullpen fought through adversity several times to keep the Rams ahead or in ball games throughout the weekend including Luke Olson giving 3.2 shutout innings of extra innings work against UT Tyler and Clayton Broeder entering the ballgame with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and collected three straight strikeouts and eventually getting the save in the championship game vs St. Edward's.

At the plate, the Rams had contributions throughout the entire lineup. Lane Hutchinson brought in the game winning run against the Patriots, Chase Pendley and Austin Beck contributed six runs each in the 15-3 victory over the Chaps. Finally, Jacob Guerrero, Justin Harris, Pendley and Valasek each had major contributions in the Championship doubleheader against the Hilltoppers.

SCOUTING THE FIELD:
(4) St. Edward's Hilltoppers
Record: 36-21 (31-17, LSC)
2025 vs Rams: 1-5; 1-3 Regular Season in San Angelo; 0-2 in LSC Tournament

The Hilltoppers played spoiler over the weekend, upsetting nationally ranked UT Tyler to open the bracket before leaning on their ace, Kobe Jaramillo, to outduel Chap's ace Ryan Markwardt in a 1-0 thriller before dropping both contests and falling in the tournament championship to ASU. Overall, the weekend saw the Hilltoppers team stats improve as they had five players named to the LSC All-Tournament Team.

KEY PLAYERS
- SP Kobe Jaramillo: 9-2 Record, 2.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 2 CG, 86.0 IP, 88 K, .225 Opponents BA
- 1B Connor Cox: .419 Batting Average, .504 OBP, .676 SLG, 1.180 OPS, 93 Hits, 21 Doubles, 12 HR, 71 RBI, 29 BB
- CF Travis Chestnut: .320 Batting Average, .471 OBP, .550 SLG, 1.021 OPS, 64 Hits, 7 Doubles, 3 Triples, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 46 BB
- DH Lance Little: .385 Batting Average, .506 OBP, .562 SLG, 1.068 OPS, 50 Hits, 9 Doubles, 1 Triple, 4 Home Runs, 37 RBI, 35 BB
- 2B Marco Barrera: .361 Batting Average, .492 OBP, .571 OPS, 1.063 OPS, 69 H, 16 Doubles, 8 Home Runs, 39 RBI, 33 BB

(5) Lubbock Christian Chaparrals
Record: 34-21 (30-18, LSC)
2025 vs Rams: 4-2; 3-1 Regular Season in Lubbock; 1-1 in LSC Tournament

The "Cardiac" Chaps struck the Rams once again during the Lone Star Conference Tournament as LCU pieced together a 11-run top of the eighth to defeat the ASU in day one's nightcap. In day two, Ryan Markwardt dueled Jaramillo of SEU and allowed the game's only run on a bases loaded suicide squeeze in the bottom of the eighth. The rematch with the Rams later that night did not go the Chapparals way as the Rams scored early and often in a 15-3 loss that knocked them out of the tournament.

KEY PLAYERS
- 3B Brevin McCool: .412 Batting Average, .517 OBP, .948 SLG, 1.465 OPS, 87 Hits, 15 Doubles, 4 Triples, 30 HR, 82 RBI, 47 BB
- SP Ryan Markwardt: 7-4 Record, 3.30 ERA, 4 CG, 84.2 IP, 89 K, .239 Opponents BA
- RF Jacob Gutierrez: .413 Batting Average, .484 OBP, .596 SLG, 1.080 OPS, 88 Hits, 10 Doubles, 4 Triples, 7 Home Runs, 57 RBI, 24 BB
- 1B Nicklaus Baumbach: .396 Batting Average, .440 OBP, .600 SLG, 1.040 OPS, 91 Hits, 20 Doubles, 9 Home Runs, 54 RBI, 17 BB
- CF Kyle Lewis: .380 Batting Average, .480 OBP, .620 SLG, 1.100 OPS, 60 Hits, 16 Doubles, 5 Triples, 4 Home Runs, 48 RBI, 24 BB

QUICK HITS:
- Jacob Guerrero reached base safely in 50 of 52 games he has appeared in this season.
- Chase Pendley holds the Rams longest active on base and hitting streak at 29 games.
- The Rams have scored 20+ runs in five games thus far in 2025, two more than the entire 2024 season.
- The Blue and Gold are 39-2 when they out hit their opponents this season…
-…and 6-6 when they've been out hit.
- The Rams have scored more runs in the first inning, 103, than any other inning this season. The third inning is the second most thus far (96).
- The Rams have yet to win a ballgame when trailing after the 7^th inning (0-4) and 8^th innings (0-5).
- Two batters have registered inside the park home runs this season (Justin Harris & Brett Smajstrla)
- Justin Harris is one of six batters in the LSC where more than 50% of their hits have been extra base hits; 51 hits (19 doubles, 8 home runs)
- Six pitchers have registered a save for the Rams; Luke Olson (5), Caleb Heuertz (2), Josh Reed (2), Keene Kreusler (1), Scott Ellis (1), Jude Cook (1) and Clayton Broeder (1)
- 11 pitchers have held opponents' batting average below .300.

RECORD WATCH:
The Rams have numerous records on watch throughout the season that will be tracked here from week to week. The number listed is the amount needed to BREAK the record:

PROGRAM RECORDS:
Games Played in a Career
- 14, Justin Harris

Games Started in a Career
- 13, Justin Harris

Doubles in a Career
- Justin Harris is 6 behind active leader Jacob Guerrero

Walks in a Career
- 6, Justin Harris

LONE STAR CONFERENCE RECORDS:
Triples in a Career
- 3, Austin Beck

BROKEN RECORDS THIS SEASON:
PROGRAM RECORDS
Doubles in a Career
- 67, Jacob Guerrero

Hit by Pitch in a Career
- 80, Weston Valasek

Stolen Bases in a Career
- 114, Austin Beck

Runs Scored in a Career
- 239, Austin Beck


LONE STAR CONFERENCE RECORDS:
Runs Scored in a Career
- 239, Austin Beck

RAMS IN THE RANKINGS:
No. 1 – D2 Baseball
No. 2 – American Baseball Coaches Association
No. 2 – National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association

RAMS' SKIPPER: KEVIN BROOKS
On Feb. 24, 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 825-362. His winning percentage of .695 ranks 24th all-time in Division II and is eighth on the list of active DII coaches.

POSTSEASON AWARDS/ACCOLADES
2025 Lone Star Conference All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player: DH Chase Pendley
SP Nick Wilson
2B Austin Beck
3B Lane Hutchinson
SS Justin Harris
OF Weston Valasek
OF Ethan Flodstrom

2025 LSC All-Academic Team
OF Ethan Flodstrom: Sr.; Management; Port Angeles, Wash.
OF Jacob Guerrero: Gr.; Professional Accountancy; Colleyville, Texas
RHP Nick Wilson: Gr.; Business Administration; Carrollton, Texas

2025 LSC BASEBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
SPECIAL AWARDS
Coaching Staff of the Year: Angelo State (Kevin Brooks, Adam Foster, Sam Mote, Jackson Berry)

First Team
RHP Dax Dathe: Sr.; Round Rock, Texas|
INF Austin Beck: Sr.; Allen, Texas
OF Jacob Guerrero: Sr.; Colleyville, Texas
DH Chase Pendley: Jr.; Prosper, Texas

Second Team
LHP Alizaeh Gutierrez: Sr.; El Paso, Texas
INF Lane Hutchinson: Sr.; Slaughter, La.
OF Ethan Flodstrom: Sr.; Port Angeles, Wash.
OF Weston Valasek: Sr.; Katy, Texas

Third Team
RHP Nick Wilson: Sr.; Carrollton, Texas
LHP Ryan Free: Sr.; Frisco, Texas
RHP Luke Olsen: Sr.; Granville, Ill.
SS Justin Harris: Sr.; The Woodlands, Texas

2025 LSC All-Defensive Team
C Blake Wilhoite: Jr.; Midlothian, Texas
1B Tayten Tredaway: Sr.; Newark, Texas
OF Weston Valasek: Sr.; Katy, Texas

WEEKLY AWARDS:
Lone Star Conference Hitter of the Week
Feb. 25 – Weston Valasek
Apr. 14 – Ethan Flodstrom

Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week
Apr. 28 – Dax Dathe

NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Week
Apr. 29 – Dax Dathe

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