SAN ANGELO, Texas – The No. 23 Rams baseball team are looking to gain ground in the Lone Star Conference standings when they play host to Texas A&M - Kingsville in a four-game series beginning Friday, April 12.

#23 ANGELO STATE RAMS (26-12, 24-12 LSC) vs. TEXAS A&M - KINGSVILLE JAVELINAS (23-19, 21-19 LSC)
Game 1: Fri., Apr., 12, 6:30 p.m. | Game 2/3: Sat. Apr., 13, 4:00 p.m. | Game 4: Sun. Apr., 15, 1:00 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 took three of four games against Texas A&M International last weekend. After a hitless game one, Jacob Guerrero contributed a home run in game two and four while Blake Wilhoite launched his first long ball of the year that propelled the Blue and Gold to victory in game three. Saturday's doubleheader also saw gems tossed by Braxton Pearson and Alezeah Gutierrez, who allowed just five combined hits to the Dustdevils.

SERIES HISTORY:
All-Time Series: ASU leads 40-30
Last Meeting: Apr. 16, 2023 – ASU, 6-1 – Kingsville, Texas
The series between the Rams and Javelinas have proven to be competitive since its inception in 2007. ASU averages 6.57 runs a game against TAMUK while holding onto a 17-13 record of games played at home.

SCOUTING THE JAVELINAS
Texas A&M-Kingsville currently sit sixth in the LSC with a 21-19 conference record as they enter the weekend losers in six of their last eight contests. After splitting with St. Mary's on the road to end the month of March, the TAMUK suffered their first series sweep of the season at the hands of Lubbock Christian at home.

Kingsville's bats currently rank in the bottom half of the LSC with a .291 team batting average. Ramsey Amador leads the team with a .360 batting average, a 1.084 OPS and seven home runs. Dalton Kramer is another name to look out for as he is second in OPS (1.016) while leading qualified hitters in doubles (11) and on base percentage (.469).

On the bump, the Javelinas are second behind the Rams in team pitching with a 5.68 ERA. Sergio Lopez is the player to watch as he boasts a team best 2.76 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Primarily used as a bullpen arm to begin the season, Lopez made his first start of the season on Mar. 2 where he tossed a complete game shutout of UT Permian Basin. Since then, he has thrown two more complete games and allowed just one earned run in all but one start.

TWICE AS NICE:
In a performance in which he struck out three on the way to his second complete game shutout of the season, Alezeah Gutierrez earned his second Lone Star Conference and NCBWA Pitcher of the Week honors. The junior Criminal Justice major from El Paso allowed two hits and two walks while not allowing a runner past first base.

QUICK HITS:
- Tripp Clark leads the conference in batting average (.448) and RBIs (57)
- Jacob Guerrero leads the LSC in doubles (17) while his 1.240 OPS puts him fifth in the LSC
- Tayten Tredaway's 16 doubles is tied for second behind Guerrero in the LSC
- Weston Valasek has been hit by a pitch 23 times this season which not only leads the conference, but also DII.
- Dax Dathe's 73 strikeouts continues to lead the conference while…
- Alezeah Gutierrez is third with 54 strikeouts of his own

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
LSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 12 – Tripp Clark (Hitter)
- Mar. 4 – Dax Dathe (Pitcher)
- Mar. 11 – Alezeah Gutierrez (Pitcher)
- Mar. 19 – Jacob Guerrero (Hitter)
- Apr. 9 – Alezeah Gutierrez (Pitcher)

NCBWA SOUTH CENTRAL REGION PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
- Feb. 12 – Tripp Clark (Hitter)
- Mar. 4 – Dax Dathe (Pitcher)
- Mar. 11 – Alezeah Gutierrez (Pitcher)
- Mar. 19 – Jacob Guerrero (Hitter)
- Apr. 10 – Alezeah Gutierrez (Pitcher)

NCBWA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
- Mar. 20 – Jacob Guerrero (Hitter)

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.