SAN ANGELO, Texas – The top ranked Angelo State baseball team will kick off postseason play when the Rams host the Championship Round of the Lone Star Conference Baseball Tournament beginning on Thursday, May 8.

Double-Elimination Tournament Schedule
All times CT

Thursday, May 8
Game 1: [2] UT Tyler vs. [3] St. Edward's, 2 p.m.
Game 2: [1] Angelo State vs. [4] Lubbock Christian, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 9
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 10
Championship Game: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Championship Game 2 (if necessary): 30 minutes following

Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium

Live Video: FloCollege
Live Stats: Angelostats.com

LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams completed the 2025 regular season with a doubleheader sweep of Cameron back on Friday, Apr. 25 to clinch the Lone Star Conference Regular Season Championship and earn the top seed in the LSC Tournament.

Game one saw a tie game through the first six innings before the Chase Pendley triple and a Tayten Tredaway single tacked on four runs in the top of the seventh before Luke Olson slammed the door to secure the victory.

Dax Dathe was the story of game two as he tossed his second complete game shutout of the season, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out eight. His effort earned him multiple honors including Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week and NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Week.

SCOUTING THE FIELD:
(2) UT Tyler Patriots
Record: 43-9 (40-8, LSC)
2025 vs Rams: 2-2 in Tyler

UT Tyler dominated Texas A&M Kingsville in the first round of the LSC Tournament, outscoring the Javelinas 21-1, including a seven-inning run rule to clinch the series in game two. The Patriots boast the conference longest winning streak of 16 games, dating back to Mar. 30. On the bump, the 3.66 team ERA is the best in the Lone Star Conference. Offensively, they sit third with a .351 batting average and sit in the middle of the tournament field in the rest of the fields.

KEY PLAYERS
- SP Kyle Froehlich: 9-0 Record, 1.99 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3 CG, 54.1 IP, 39 K, .246 Opponents BA
- SP Rawley Hector: 8-1 Record, 2.80 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 70.2 IP, 72 K, .240 Opponents BA
- INF Drew Schmidt: .446 Batting Average .532 OBP, .662 SLG, 1.194 OPS, 87 Hits, 20 Doubles, 5 Triples, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 32 BB

(3) St. Edward's Hilltoppers
Record: 34-19 (31-17, LSC)
2025 vs Rams: 1-3 in San Angelo

St Edward's defeated St. Mary's in a playoff edition of the Battle of the Saints as the Hilltoppers needed all three games and a walk off walk to advance to this weekend's double elimination tournament. The Hilltoppers have a team batting average of .301, which is ninth in the conference. On the pitching side, the Hilltoppers 6.28 ERA is fifth in the LSC and third amongst the field.

KEY PLAYERS
- OF Connor Cox: .412 Batting Average, .502 OBP, .686 SLG, 1.188 OPS, 84 Hits, 20 Doubles, 12 HR, 69 RBI, 28 BB
- SP Kobe Jaramillo: 8-2 Record, 3.27 ERA, 1.22, 1 CG, 77.0 IP, 87 K, .288 Opponents BA
- INF Travis Chestnut: .321 Batting Average, .475 OBP, .560 SLG, 1.035 OPS, 59 Hits, 5 Doubles, 3 Triples, 11 HR, 53 RBI, 43 BB

(4) Lubbock Christian Chaparrals
Record: 33-19 (30-18, LSC)
2025 vs Rams: 3-1 in Lubbock

As it has become norm for the Chaps this season, a high scoring affair took place last weekend against West Texas A&M with LCU sweeping the series by a combined score of 28-22. Lubbock Christian enters the weekend with the highest scoring offense in the country, scoring 545 runs in 52 games played. The Chaps .352 batting average is second in the conference. On the pitching side, the team 8.25 team ERA is the worst amongst the field.  

KEY PLAYERS
- 1B Brevin McCool: .417 Batting Average, .522 OBP, .985 SLG, 1.507 OPS, 83 Hits, 15 Doubles, 4 Triples, 30 HR, 82 RBI, 46 BB
- SP Ryan Markwardt: 7-3 Record, 3.52 ERA, 3 CG, 76.2 IP, 82 K, .240 Opponents BA
- OF Jacob Gutierrez: .428 Batting Average, .496 OBP, .622 SLG, 1.118 OPS, 86 Hits, 10 Doubles, 4 Triples, 7 Home Runs, 54 RBI, 23 BB

QUICK HITS:
- Jacob Guerrero reached base safely in 46 of 47 games he has appeared in this season.
- Chase Pendley holds the Rams longest active on base and hitting streak at 24 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 35-2 when they out hit their opponents this season.
- The Rams have scored more runs in the first inning, 101, than any other inning this season. The third inning is the second most thus far (89).
- 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; 45 hits (18 doubles, 7 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) and Jude Cook (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
- 19, Justin Harris

Games Started in a Career
- 18, Justin Harris
 
Runs Scored in a Career
- 5, Austin Beck

Doubles in a Career
- Justin Harris is 4 behind active leader Jacob Guerrero

Walks in a Career
- 10, Justin Harris

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

Triples in a Career
- 3, Austin Beck

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

Hit by Pitch in a Career
- 75, Weston Valasek

Stolen Bases in a Career
- 110, 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.

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