SAN ANGELO, Texas – The top-ranked Angelo State baseball team is back in action this week as the Rams host Texas A&M International in a four-game conference series beginning on Thursday at Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams had last weekend off after sweeping Lubbock Christian on the road the week before. ASU opened the series with an eight-run comeback in 11 innings before taking the other three games with a combined score of 43 runs. Kade Bragg earned his second straight LSC Pitcher of the Week honor after allowing only one hit through seven innings. The Rams are the only conference team to sweep the Chaps since LCU joined the LSC.
 
#1 ANGELO STATE RAMS (30-4, 28-4 LSC) vs. TEXAS A&M INT. DUSTDEVILS (16-22, 15-21 LSC)
Game 1: Thurs, Apr. 6, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2/3: Fri., Apr. 7, 4 p.m. | Sat. Apr. 8, 1 p.m.
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium – San Angelo, Texas
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads 22-1
Last Meeting: Mar. 20, 2022 – ASU, 11-4
After dropping the first meeting between these two programs back in 2011, the Rams have won 22 straight games over the Dustdevils, averaging just under 10 runs per game in the all-time series. The Rams are 9-0 at home against TAMIU.
 
SCOUTING THE DUSTDEVILS:
The Dustdevils enter the weekend with a 16-22 overall record, going 15-21 in conference play. Over the last 10 games, they hold a 4-6 record, winning their last two contests. TAMIU has earned series victories against Cameron and UAFS while splitting with both Oklahoma Christian and LCU. They rank 10^th in the LSC in batting average at .296 and 11^th in ERA at 8.12.
 
Matt Kissamis leads the Dustdevils at the plate with an average of .362 while collecting 29 RBIs with four home runs and an on-base percentage of .436. He also ranks sixth in the conference in hits with 50. On the mound, Ian Cabrera holds the most wins for TAMIU with a 5-2 record and an ERA of 3.53 through 51 innings. He has collected 67 strikeouts with only 12 walks on the year.
 
POLL RANKINGS:
In the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, the Rams jumped up to the No. 1 spot which is the first time the Rams were ranked No. 1 in a poll since the 2021 season. In the NCBWA Top 25, the Rams moved up to No. 2 with five first-place votes.
 
LEADING THE REGION:
The Rams came in at No. 1 in the latest NCBWA South-Central Regional Poll, earning all eight first-place votes.
 
QUICK HITS:
-Offensively, the Rams rank Top 10 in Division II in most categories including second in batting average (.362) and on base percentage (.483), third in runs (370), fifth in slugging percentage (.564) and fifth in stolen bases (106).
-Kade Bragg leads Division II in ERA with a 0.37 ERA through 48 2/3 innings.
-The Rams lead the LSC in batting average (.362) and ERA (3.85).
-Jacob Guerrero holds the top batting average in the LSC and ranks fifth in Division II at .465.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 14 – Braxton Pearson, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Feb. 21 – Jordan Williams, Angelo State (Hitter)
- Mar. 14 – Aaron Munson, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Mar. 14 – Jacob Guerrero, Angelo State (Hitter)
- Mar. 21 – Kade Bragg, Angelo State (Pitcher)
- Mar. 28 – Kade Bragg, Angelo State (Pitcher)
 
RAMS SET PROGRAM SCORING RECORD:
In a nonconference game against Southwestern, the Rams defeated the Pirates 33-4, setting a new program record for runs scored in a game. The previous record of 29 runs was set in 2021 against McMurry.
 
NEW HIT KING AT ASU:
Jordan Williams became the all-time hit leader for the Rams this season, surpassing 250 hits in his career.
 
WIN No. 700:
Against UAFS earlier this season, Head Coach Kevin Brooks tallied his 700^th win at Angelo State.
 
CONFERENCE FAVORITES:
The Rams were selected as the favorites to take the 2023 LSC crown, earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 407 points, including 23 first-place votes. Coming in second was West Texas A&M followed by Texas A&M- Kingsville and Lubbock Christian.
 
NCBWA PRESEASON ALL-REGION:
The Rams had two players selected to the NCBWA Preseason All-Region Team, infielder Austin Beck and starting pitcher Aaron Munson. Beck was selected as the LSC Freshman of the Year last season after hitting .420 with 59 RBIs and 84 runs scored. He earned two All-American honors and led the Rams in stolen bases with 33. Munson led the Rams in wins a season ago, finishing with an overall record of 11-3 while collecting 81 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .277 hitting average while throwing 94 1/3 innings on the year.