SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 9 Angelo State baseball team will kick off the 2026 season on the road with a three-game series against UT Permian Basin beginning on Friday, Jan. 28. Due to unplayable field conditions, Friday's game will be played at Odessa College's Wrangler Field with hopes of concluding the rest of the series at UTPB's Roden Field.

SERIES SCHEDULE
No. 9 Angelo State Rams at UT Permian Basin
Odessa, Texas

Game 1: Friday, Jan. 30, 2 p.m.
(at Odessa College's Wrangler Field)

Game 2: Saturday, Jan. 31, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, Feb. 1, 1 p.m.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Under the direction of second-year head coach Justin Phillips, UT Permian Basin will look to continue its form from the end of last season as the Falcons won 17 of their final 28 games to finish 20-30 overall and 19-29 in the LSC, which was good for ninth place.

KEY PLAYERS
RHP Timmy LaChappa - 2025: 14 Appearances (12 Starts), 3-5 Record, 4 Complete Games, 1 Shutout, 6.71 ERA in 61.2 Innings Pitched, Struck Out 46 and Walked 41 of the 243 batters he faced.

INF Gael Bernal – 2025 (at New Mexico Highlands): Won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Gold Glove…He started 47 games at second base for the Cowboys in 2025 and posted a .956 fielding percentage. Was tabbed RMCA Freshman of the Year after hitting .392 and then hitting .340 with eight home runs as a sophomore.

RAMBLINGS ABOUT THE RAMS
RAMS IN THE RANKINGS
No. 9 – American Baseball Coaches Association
No. 11 – D2 Baseball
No. 12 – National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association

THE SCHEDULE LOOKS…DIFFERENT
With the addition of UT Dallas in the Fall of 2025, the Lone Star Conference had to make adjustments to the schedule to adhere to the 50-game regular season limit imposed by the NCAA. Therefore, all games on the Rams' 2026 schedule are Lone Star Conference games, with the first two series of the season will be three games each before transitioning back to a four-game series format beginning in week three.

KEY RETURNERS (2025 Stats)
- DH/INF Chase Pendley: .390 batting average in 200 at-bats….461 on-base percentage and .515 slugging percentage…78 hits…13 doubles…3 triples…2 home runs…47 RBIs…60 runs scored.
- INF Austin Beck: .376 batting average in 181 at-bats….500 on-base percentage and .569 slugging percentage…68 hits…11 doubles…3 triples…6 home runs…48 RBIs…65 runs scored.
- C Blake Wilhoite: .297 batting average in 145 at-bats….458 on-base percentage and .421 slugging percentage…43 hits…13 doubles…1 triple…1 home run…32 RBIs…39 runs scored.
- LHP Josh Reed: 19 appearances…1 start…3-2 record…3 saves…6.93 ERA…24.2 innings pitched…29 strikeouts…9 walks…284 opposing batting average.

AUSTIN BECK, RECORD BREAKER
Austin Beck has broken numerous school and Lone Star Conference Records over the course of his stellar career in the Blue and Gold. Entering his senior season, the Allen, Texas native owns the program's:

- Stolen Base in a Career, 119
- Runs Scored in a Career, 242
- Runs Scored in a Career (Lone Star Conference), 242
- Triples in a Career, 17
- Walks in a Game, 4

Beck now has his sights set on more records, including…

- Lone Star Conference Record for Triples in a Career, 3 Away
- School Record for Games Played in a Career, 49 Away
- School Record for Games Started in a Career, 48 Away
- School Record for Hits in a Career, 61 Away
- School Record for Doubles in a Career, 25 Away
- School Record for Total Bases in a Career, 60 Away

THE SKIP: KEVIN BROOKS
Kevin Brooks has guided the Angelo State baseball program to seven NCAA Division II College World Series appearances, including seven South Central Championships, and has compiled an impressive overall record of 834-364 since starting the ASU program in 2005. In 2023, the Rams claimed the Division II National Championship for the first time in program history.

PRESEASON HONORS
NCBWA PRESEASON SOUTH CENTRAL ALL-REGION
Chase Pendley – Designated Hitter

LONE STAR CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
The Angelo State baseball team was picked to finish as the runner-up, totaling 599 points and collecting 20 of the possible 42 first-place votes. UT Tyler was selected to win the LSC with 603 points and garnered an additional 20 first-place votes. Lubbock Christian, St. Edward's and West Texas A&M rounded out the top five, with the last two first-place votes going to Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M International.

LONE STAR CONFERENCE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chase Pendley – Designated Hitter/Infielder
Josh Reed – Left-Handed Pitcher

2025 SEASON RECAP
Last season, ASU accumulated a 48-10 overall record and went 39-7 in Lone Star Conference play on the way to capturing the LSC Regular Season and Tournament Titles before falling to UT Tyler in the South Central Super Regional.