SAN ANGELO, Texas – As the 2026 regular season comes down to the final 12 games,  the Angelo State University baseball will get to play eight of them in front of the home crowd at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium beginning on Friday, Apr. 10 when they start a four-game series against West Texas A&M.

LAST TIME OUT
The Rams battled the elements in Austin, Texas and left the Live Music Capital of the World with a series split against St. Edward's.

PITCHING
Despite the two losses, the Rams pitching staff had some highlights beginning with Garrett Baumann, who picked up both wins in the series, allowing just one unearned run while striking out seven over 5 2/3 innings. Luke Spencer overcame a rough relief appearance on Friday to give ASU 8 1/3 innings on Sunday, where he allowed two runs while also striking out seven.

HITTING
The Rams had three players turn in batting averages over .400 while another gave over .300. Hunter Holt led with a .500 average while also recording an on base percentage of .625. Payton Bush followed with a .467 average. Chase Pendley swung a .444 clip but also led the team with three doubles, giving himself a team-best .611 slugging percentage.

THE SERIES
RV Angelo State Rams (25-13, 25-13 LSC)
vs West Texas A&M Buffaloes (23-15, 23-15 LSC)
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium – San Angelo, Texas

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: ASU leads 69-42
Last Meeting: Apr. 13, 2025 – ASU, 23-4 – Canyon, Texas
The Rams have led the entire series since its inception and have won eight of the last 10 games including the previous six matchups dating back to the 2024 South Central Regional. The Blue and Gold average just over 7 runs a game against Buffs pitching.

SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Friday, Apr. 10, 6:30 p.m.
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Game 2 (7 Innings): Saturday, Apr. 10, 4 p.m.
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Game 3 (7 Innings): Saturday, Apr. 10, 7 p.m.
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Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 10, 1 p.m.
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FRIDAY: BUDWEISER CLYDESDALES
On Friday, the world-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales will make a special appearance at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium from 4–6 p.m. Fans can take photos and watch the iconic Clydesdales trot around the stadium at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Don't miss your chance to grab a limited-edition shirt from 4–5:30 p.m.—each purchase includes a complimentary ticket to the game.

SCOUTING THE BUFFALOES
West Texas A&M enters the weekend at 23-15 overall, having an equal 11-8 record at home and 12-7 on the road. Recently, WT have dropped six of their last eight contests, including series losses on the road to St. Mary's and at home against Lubbock Christian.

HITTING
As a team, the Buffs enter the weekend with a .325 batting average, third best in the Lone Star Conference while boasting the most runs per game in the conference with nine. They also are amongst the conference leaders in doubles (81), triples (14), RBI (306), and slugging percentage (.498).

The Buffaloes offense is led by Jacob Police, who leads the team with a .381 average, 56 hits and 14 doubles. Jake Alwine is the second of three players who have over a 1.000 OPS as he leads with a 1.158 courtesy of a .587 on base percentage thanks to his 40 walks drawn.

PITCHING
West Texas A&M have a staff ERA of 6.56, seventh in the LSC. The Buffs allowed recorded 274 strikeouts, third in the LSC. Nick Yeager leads the staff with a 4.24 ERA despite his 1-4 record. Cade Griffin boasts a 7-2 record, collecting 43 strikeouts across 59.1 innings pitched.

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, 279
- Runs Scored in a Career (Lone Star Conference), 279
- Stolen Base in a Career, 147
- Total Bases in a Career, 449
- 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, 11 Away
- School Record for Games Started in a Career, 10 Away
- School Record for Hits in a Career, 16 Away
- School Record for Doubles in a Career, 11 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 861-377 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.