SAN ANGELO, Texas – A short week lies ahead for the Angelo State University baseball team, as they will travel to the state capital to face St. Edward's in a four-game series beginning on Thursday, Apr. 2.

LAST TIME OUT
The Rams bounced back in a big way, overcoming Friday's 14-inning defeat to take the final three games against Texas A&M-Kingsville at home.

PITCHING
Pitching saw an improvement across the board for the Rams as multiple players limited offensive production across multiple innings. Luke Spencer struck out seven through 5 1/3 innings in Friday's marathon. Isaac Godard and Nick Gray responded on Saturday with six innings apiece on Saturday to preserve the bullpen for Sunday's 16-10 win.

HITTING
The Rams had three players turn in batting averages over .400 while two more gave over .300. Tate Greene led with a .438 average while Brett Smajstrla had a .417 and a slugging percentage of 1.083 as he recorded a home run, two triples and a double. Blake Wilhoite had an even .400 batting average while recording a team-high .700 on base percentage.

THE SERIES
RV Angelo State Rams (23-11, 23-11 LSC)
at St. Edward's Hilltoppers (20-13, 20-13 LSC)
Lucian-Hamilton Field – Austin, Texas

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: ASU leads 28-7
Last Meeting: May 17, 2025 – ASU, 8-7 – San Angelo, Texas
Both programs faced off a total of eight times in 2025, with the Rams winning seven. The Blue and Gold took three of four during the regular season series at home and won all four games in the postseason, two during the Lone Star Conference Tournament and twice in the South Central Regional.

SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Thursday, Apr. 2, 2 p.m.
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Game 2 (7 Innings): Friday, Apr. 3, 12 p.m.
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Game 3 (7 Innings): Saturday, Apr. 3, 3 p.m.
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Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 4, 1 p.m.
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SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
St. Edward's enters the weekend at 20-13 overall, having an equal 11-4 record at home and 9-9 on the road. SEU have not been in the best form as of late, having dropped seven of their last nine contests, including series losses at home to St. Mary's and on the road at Lubbock Christian.

HITTING
As a team, the Hilltoppers enter the weekend with a .310 batting average. SEU averages 8.63 runs per game, the fifth most in the Lone Star Conference. They are among the conference leaders in walks (230) and on base percentage (.448).

The Hilltoppers offense is headlined by Connor Cox, who boasts a slash line of .386/.536/.711, totaling a 1.247 OPS with seven home runs, 12 doubles and 41 RBI.

PITCHING
St. Edward's have a staff ERA of 6.82, eighth in the LSC. The Hilltoppers allowed 294 hits, fourth in the LSC. Connor Freeman leads the staff with a 4-1 record and a 4.35 ERA in 41.1 innings across nine starts.

RAMBLINGS ABOUT THE RAMS
AMONG THE NATION (and conference) LEADERS
The Rams continue to be amongst the nation's and conference leaders in numerous statistical categories, including;

- Base on Balls: 178 (26^th in DII, 4^th in LSC)
- Double Plays: 31 (3^rd in DII, 1^st in LSC)
- Team ERA: 4.76 (39^th in DII, 2^nd in LSC)
- Hit by Pitch: 78 (4^th in DII, 2^nd in LSC)
- Hits Allowed per 9 Innings: 8.45 (21^st in DII, 1^st in LSC)
- On Base Percentage: .428 (55^th in DII, 4^th in LSC)
- Runs Scored: 275 (41^st in DII, 5^th in LSC)
- Sacrifice Bunts: 28 (8^th in DII, 2^nd in LSC)
- Stolen Bases: 107 (5^th in DII, 1^st in LSC)
- Triples: 16 (4^th in DII, 1^st in LSC)
- WHIP: 1.42 (28^th in DII, 2^nd in LSC)

NEW KIDS (ON THE DIAMOND)
The Angelo State baseball program has seen numerous contributions from new faces early in the 2026 campaign:

- Tate Greene: .323 batting average, .385 on base percentage, .452 slugging percentage
- Payton Bush: .301 batting average, .427 on base percentage and .410 slugging percentage
- Gamaliel Jones : .286 batting average, .481 on base percentage
- Ryan Cook: 3-1 Record, 2 Complete Games, 2.73 ERA, .214 Opponents Batting Average
- Nick Gray: 2-0 Record, 2.31 ERA, .105 Opponents Batting Average

HIS NAME IS BECK…AUSTIN BECK
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:

- Runs Scored in a Career, 278
- Runs Scored in a Career (Lone Star Conference), 278
- Stolen Base in a Career, 146
- Total Bases in a Career, 446
- 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, 15 Away
- School Record for Games Started in a Career, 14 Away
- School Record for Hits in a Career, 18 Away
- School Record for Doubles in a Career, 12 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 859-375 since starting the ASU program in 2005. In 2023, the Rams claimed the Division II National Championship for the first time in program history.

BAU-WOW-MANN
Garrett Baumann was named Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 2 after the Poth native earned two wins in relief against then-No. 23 St. Mary's by tossing eight shutout innings with six strikeouts. Baumann scattered three hits – all singles – and allowed just a .111 opponents' batting average.

IN SEASON AWARDS
NCBWA NATIONAL HITTER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 19 – Austin Beck

NCBWA SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL HITTER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 25 – Austin Beck
Feb. 18 – Austin Beck

LONE STAR CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Mar. 2 – Garrett Baumann

LONE STAR CONFERENCE HITTER OF THE WEEK
Feb. 23 – Austin Beck
Feb. 17 – Austin Beck

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.

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.

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.