CARY, North Carolina – After sweeping its way through the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, the Angelo State baseball team is preparing to face No. 1 Millersville (PA) in the first round of the NCAA Division II College World Series on Saturday, May 28 at 9 a.m. CDT / 10 a.m. EDT.
The Rams, who are currently sitting at 39-20 overall this season, are fresh off 4-0 sweep of the South Central Regional in Grand Junction, Colorado. Angelo State completed the regional with a 9-2 victory over No.3 St. Edward's, which also marked Kevin Brooks' 450th win as the head coach of the Rams. This will be the programs third trip to the CWS (2007, 2015, 2016), and will also mark the second consecutive year that ASU has made the event. With an overall College World Series record of 2-4, Angelo State will be seeking to improve on its last visit in 2015 which resulted with the team being eliminated in its third round with a 1-2 tournament record.
This will be the first time that the Rams and Marauders have meet on the diamond, as well as the first time ASU has kicked off the tournament facing the No.1 ranked team in the nation. Like ASU, MU has will also be drawing from its past CWS experiences as this is also its third trip (). The Marauders, who represent the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, will enter the first round of the CWS with a 50-5 overall record and a 3-0 record in the post season.
Taking to the bump for ASU's first round of play, Bryce Zak (9-2) is boasting a 2.52 ERA this season. The 2016 Brett Tomko Award finalist and ABCA/Rawlings all-region first team selection had a record setting outing in the first round of the regional tournament, as he set both the Angelo State single season strikeout record (143) and the Lone Star Conference career strikeout record (266). The San Angelo native posted a 1.08 ERA and retired eight hitters on strikes in his only appearance in Grand Junction.
Also expected to see action on the hill will be sophomore Matt Shannon, who is currently sitting at a 2.90 ERA with a 7-5 record in 2016. After a seven strikeout performance in the regional tournament, Shannon took over sole possession of the No. 3 spot for single season strikeouts in the ASU history books with 113 this season.
Kenton Schroter (5-0, 1), Graylon Brown (6-6, 12), Joe Hauser (5-2, 1) and Jayden O'Dell (0-0) could also be called upon to make appearances on the mound for the Rams. Schroter is coming off his second consecutive complete game showing. The junior recorded the only complete game for the Rams in the Grand Junction regional striking out four with a game ERA of 1.00. The Canadian national gave up only one earned run off of eight hits during the outing and has now improved his season ERA to a team third 2.50. Brown, the LSC all-time career saves leader (29) and is second in the nation with post season saves in 2016. The Brownwood, Texas native is also second on the squad with a 2.09 ERA and has struck out 50 hitters in 2016. The senior recorded three of his 12 saves this season in the South Central Regional Tournament.
Hauser has been a solid middle reliever for the Rams this season and is second on the team with 26 appearances in 2016. The right-hander has retired 31 batters on strikes this season and is sporting a 3.96 ERA. O'Dell, who has made six stellar starts since coming off of Tommy John surgery last season, has been clocked at a team high 96 mph and is entering the CWS with a 5.84 ERA for the year. The senior has chalked up 26 strikeouts this season with four coming in his last start against No.3 St. Edward's in the regional championship game.
Leading the attack for the Angelo State offense will be Paxton DeLaGarza and Sam Kohler. DeLaGarza leads the team with nine homers and 18 doubles. The ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team selection and 2015 All-American has marked 73 total hits thus far, with 46 RBIs and a team leading .344 batting average at the dish. He is also leads with a .575 slugging percentage and is third on the squad with a .412 on base percentage. The senior has also scored a team most 46 runs for the Rams. Kohler has improved his batting average to .341 after stroking a team second eight hits in the regional. He has recorded a team most 74 hits and has driven in 29 runs for ASU. Around the bags, Kohler leads the team having pocketed 12 stolen bags. He remains the only player on the team to have played in and started all 59 games this season. On the field, his 186 and 32 fielded double plays is also a team high.
First baseman Jay Gonzales and designated hitter/outfielder Jarryd Klemm have played great roles in the Rams success late in the season. Gonzales, the South Central Regional Tournament MVP, lead the team in Grand Junction going 8-for-16 at the plate, cranking three doubles and a pivotal homer. He amassed five RBIs for the tournament and scored three total runs. The Dallas native is averaging .331 in the batter's box with a .446 slugging percentage and a .414 on base percentage. He has hit a total of 12 doubles and a pair of home runs in 2016. Hailing from Adelaide, Australia, Klemm is rocking a .331 batting average. He has a team third 54 hits and has plated 19 base runners. When on the base paths, he has stolen a perfect 6-of-6 bases and has crossed home 24 times.
Also, looking to make big contributions for the Rams in this tournament will be Elias Aguirre, Steven Pinales, Nathan Ruane, Tyler Coolbaugh and David Goggin. Aguirre has recorded 42 total hits with seven of those being multi-base hits. Showing his wheels, the speedy centerfielder has stolen a team second 11 bases on the season and has scored 30 runs for the Rams. Pinales is second on the team with six home runs. His last shot over the fence was a two run blast that came during Regional Championship game. He has also record three triples and eight doubles this year, plating a total of 26 runs.
Ruane showed his skill set during the final two games in Colorado for the Rams as he went 4-for-7 at the dish with a .714 slugging percentage and a .625 on base percentage for the tournament. His solid performance at third base for the regional tournament culminated as he fielded the final out of the championship game. Coolbaugh, who is batting .309 on the season, has recorded a team second 31 RBIs this season. He is third on the team with nine doubles thus far. Rounding out the group, Goggin has cranked three home runs and 10 doubles this season pushing 25 runs across off of 39 total hits.
Saturday's game will be broadcasted on 1260AM KKSA, with Jeremy Bryant on the call. Video and live stats will also be provided and can be found by clicking on the story links.
