SAN ANGELO, Texas (Baseball) – The Javelinas hit the road for the first time in Lone Star Conference play looking to put a damper in #RV Angelo State University's (11-6, 4-0 LSC) home debut as #RV/28 Texas A&M University-Kingsville (10-4, 3-1 LSC) battle the Rams March 11-13 at Foster Field at 1
st Community Credit Union Stadium.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday with a doubleheader following Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.
In the PollsTexas A&M-Kingsville is receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) poll after taking three-of-four from then undefeated and 10
th-ranked Cameron University. The Javelinas are ranked No. 28 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (CBN) poll.
In the region, NCBWA ranks the Hogs fifth and Angelo State eighth.
Weekly AwardsFollowing
Dalton Perry's LSC Hitter of the Week nod March 1,
Sebi Palacios was named co-LSC Pitcher of the Week and NCBWA South Central Region Pitcher of the Week after striking out 13 in 8.0 innings to hand the Aggies their first loss of the season.
Hogs on the HillThe Javelinas are striking out hitters at will, collecting 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings, 17
th most in NCAA Division II.
Hayden Vesely and Palacios rank in the top 50 in strikeouts per nine innings and if they continue to make hitters whiff, the duo can finish in the top 10 in the country in punchouts.
Three Bags at a Time PleaseTexas A&M-Kingsville has showcased its speed all season, tallying 10 triples, seventh most in Division II. Its 0.71 triples per contest are 10
th most in the nation. Vesely's five triples are fifth most in the nation and Perry has two three-baggers in his first season in Javelina Nation.
Streaks to WatchPerry and Vesely enter San Angelo with double digit reached base safely streaks. Perry has reached safely in 13 consecutive games and Vesely has 12 straight reached base safely contests. Earlier this season, Perry compiled an 11-game hit streak and Vesely carries a 10-game hit streak to Angelo State.
Brayton Carlson and
Jimmy Roche registered hits in five consecutive games.
Ruben Almaguer has five multi-RBI games as a freshman.
About the JavelinasPerry leads the team in hitting with a .392 batting average, 20 hits, six doubles, three home runs and a .475 on-base percentage. He is tied for the team lead in stolen bases with five (Carlson) and also has 13 RBI and 17 runs scored, second most on the team in both categories. Roche is second in batting with a .378 clip and Vesley follows at .373 with three doubles, five triples, two home runs and 12 RBI.
Zach Smith is batting .357, Almaguer has 15 RBI and 11 walks to go with his .349 batting average and
Pablo Hernandez is hitting .323. Carlson leads the team with 19 runs scored and 14 walks and
Wesley Aguilar has 13 walks.
Palacios is 1-0 on the year with two double-digit strikeout performances in three starts. He has punched out 27 batters in 20.0 innings and boasts a 1.80 ERA.
Shane Veeder is 3-1 with a 2.12 earned run average in six appearances and
Jako Kelm is 2-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 17.1 innings out of the bullpen. Kelm is holding opponents to a .180 batting average. Vesely is 1-0 on the mound with a 2.95 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.
About the RamsAngelo State is playing its first home series after spending the first month of the season on the road as renovations were being made to Foster Field at 1
st Community Credit Union Stadium. A ribbon cutting is set for the weekend. The Rams advanced to the 2015 Division II Baseball Championships in Cary, N.C. last season and return LSC Player of the Year and 2016 LSC Preseason Player of the Year Paxton DeLaGarza.
The Rams swept Eastern New Mexico University in the LSC opening matchup. Sam Kohler leads the team in hitting with a .410 batting average, 22 runs and 12 base on balls. Tyler Coolbaugh is batting .367 with two home runs, 17 RBI and two doubles, DeLaGarza is hitting .338 with six doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI and four others are over the .300 clip. As a team, Angelo State is batting .309.
On the bump, Bryce Zak, the co-LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, is 4-0 with a 2.64 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. Zak is limiting opponents to a .198 batting average. Matt Shannon is 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA in six appearances and he has tossed a complete game. Graylon Brown has made two starts and also has three saves this season. The team punches out 9.4 hitters per nine innings, 25
th most in Division II. Zak's 48 strikeouts are fourth most in DII and Shannon is seventh with 43.
How to FollowLive stats, audio and video will be available for all four games and fans can access all three by visiting JavelinaAthletics.com.
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