SAN ANGELO, Texas – The 20^th-ranked Angelo State baseball team return home to continue Lone Star Conference play as they face off against Oklahoma Christian beginning Friday, Mar. 9 within the friendly confines of Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium.
 
#20 ANGELO STATE RAMS (13-8, 12-8 LSC) vs. OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (3-15, 3-13 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., Mar. 8, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat., Mar. 9, 2 p.m. (DH) | Game 4: Sun., Mar. 10, 1 p.m.
Foster Field at 1^st Community Credit Union Stadium – San Angelo, Texas
Live Video: lonestarconferencenetwork.com/asu
Live Stats: angelostats.com
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Rams bounced back from their first series loss of the season as they took three of four games on the road against UAFS over the weekend. Tripp Clark contributed six RBIs while Alezeah Gutierrez, Dax Dathe and Seth Foster each collected wins on the bump.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads the series 11-1
Last Meeting: Mar. 12, 2023: ASU, 10-3 – Oklahoma City, Okla.
The Rams have won nine of their last 10 matchups against the Eagles dating back to 2022. In the most recent series, the Blue and Gold swept OCU by a combined score of 44-11 in Oklahoma City.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES:
The Eagles enter this weekend with a seven-game losing streak dating back to Friday, Feb. 23 where they won their series opener against St. Mary's 12-9. Since then, OCU dropped the following three games against the Rattlers before being swept by Lubbock Christian last weekend.

Despite the struggles at the plate as a team, Hunter Jones shines in the Eagles' lineup as he leads the team in batting average (.327), OPS (1.067), doubles (5), home runs (3) and RBIs (17).
On the mound, OCU has struggled to find consistency as they enter this weekend with a team ERA near ten and a WHIP over two. Chris Jones highlights the staff out of the bullpen with a 1.98 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 13.2 innings of work throughout four appearances.

DATHE EARNS WEEKLY HONORS:
In an effort where he allowed no runs on two hits – both singles – and no walks while striking out eight over six innings in relief, Dax Dathe earned Pitcher of the Week honors not only in the Lone Star Conference but also in the South Central Region as voted on by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. The junior Interdisciplinary Studies major from Round Rock, Texas leads the conference in strikeouts with 39 which is also good for sixth in Division II.

QUICK HITS:
- Tripp Clark continues to rake as he currently sits second in hits (34) and fourth in the conference in batting average (.436) and OPS (1.233)
- Tayten Tredaway's 12 doubles puts him atop the Lone Star Conference
- Jacob Guerrero has bounced back from his slow start and he now sits second in triples (3) and third in doubles (10) in the LSC.
- Weston Valasek has scored 25 times puts him in fourth in the the conference
- Justin Harris' 22 walks puts him second in the LSC
- Alezeah Gutierrez's 26 strikeouts put him fourth-best in the conference

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 12 – Tripp Clark, Angelo State (Hitter)
- Mar. 4 – Dax Dathe, Angelo State (Pitcher)
 
CONFERENCE FAVORITES:
The Rams were selected as the favorites to take the 2024 LSC crown, earning the top spot in the preseason poll with 503 points, including 38 of the 39 first-place votes. Coming in second was UT Tyler followed by St. Edwards and Lubbock Christian.

NCBWA PRESEASON ALL - AMERICANS:
The Rams had four players selected to the NCBWA Preseason All-American Team, earning First-Team honors was outfielder Jacob Guerrero who was also selected as the 2024 Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year. Being named to the All-American Second-Team is starting pitcher Braxton Pearson, who was named Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and catcher Tripp Clark. Rounding out the honors is utility man Austin Beck who was named an Honorable Mention.