TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler baseball will close out the road portion of their LSC schedule this weekend with a four game set against St. Mary's. Game one is set to begin on Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch. Following that game will be a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and then the series will finally wrap up on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
 
A TIGHT RACE
 
With just two weekend's left in the regular season, the race for the third and fourth positions in the LSC standings is growing tighter with each game. Lubbock Christian currently holds the number three spot, and Texas A&M-Kingsville is just behind at number four. UT Tyler sits fifth but are certainly within striking distance with just eight games remaining.
 
The top four teams in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season will each have the opportunity to host a first round playoff series at their home field. Just three total games separates third and fifth, and UT Tyler and Lubbock Christian will play each other in the final series of the season at Irwin Field next weekend.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
The Patriots and Rattlers have faced off just three times in series history, and all three of those contests came April 24-25 of last year in Tyler, Texas. In that series, the Rattlers prevailed 2-1, taking the final two contests after dropping the first contest 8-7.
 
This will be the first trip to San Antonio, Texas for the baseball program and it will give them their first chance at retaking the lead in the overall series.
 
THE SCOUTING REPORT
 
St. Mary's ranks seventh in the LSC in team batting average at .288 and are eighth in ERA at 7.81. However, the Rattlers rank top five in numerous categories including: first in double plays, second in sacrifice bunts, fifth in triples, and fifth in stolen bases per game.
 
At the plate, Jake Mares leads the way for the Rattlers in average at .382 on the season. He ranks eighth in the LSC in that category while collecting 58 hits, 33 RBI's, and has 28 walks while striking out just 18 times on the year. Of those 58 hits, 12 have gone for extra bases.
 
Steven Medrano leads the starting pitching staff for St. Mary's with an ERA of 5.61. He holds a record of 4-3 on the year in 11 games started. He has allowed 37 earned runs over 59.1 innings pitched while giving up 31 walks and striking out 56 batters.
 
Chris Ermis takes over the head coaching role for the first time in 2022 after spending the previous 25 years as an assistant coach or an associate head coach. His primary role has been coaching the pitching staff throughout his tenure with the Rattlers. Ermis had a big hand in producing the top team ERA in the country in 2012 at 2.49 and was also on staff when the Rattlers won the 2001 National Championship.
 
THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
 
West Texas A&M continues to hold the number one spot in the LSC standings but now only sit one game clear of Angelo State. Those two teams sit in front of Lubbock Christian, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and UT Tyler, who round out the top five. St. Edward's and Oklahoma Christian sit at sixth and seventh, and St. Mary's and Eastern New Mexico are tied for eighth place as it stands.
 
The LSC postseason tournament will begin on May 6-8 and will feature four best of three series all hosted by the top four seeds. Just eight teams will make the conference tournament opening round before the final four teams will play a double elimination bracket on May 12-14.
 
ON THE HORIZON
 
Following this weekend's action, the Patriots will return home to Tyler, Texas for their final series of the season against Lubbock Christian. There will be plenty of celebrations throughout the weekend as it will also double as Clements Fluids Weekend and Senior Day. Senior Day will be celebrated on April 30^th with a graduation ceremony being held before game one and a senior ceremony between the two games.