LAST TIME OUT
 
Last weekend the #16 Patriots got off to a scorching start as they swept #12 Lubbock Christian on the road. The Patriots scored 56 combined runs in the effort, including wins of 18-6, 16-4, and 15-8 in the final three games of the series. Drew Schmidt and Connor Clark served as the catalysts for the offense, going a combined 16-for-31 with seven doubles and a triple on their way to driving home 16 runs and scoring 13 themselves.
 
PRESEASON RANKS
 
The Patriots were selected as the #4 team in the LSC preseason poll, earning 386 points and one first place vote. Rawley Hector was also selected as the LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, the first member of the program to earn an LSC Preseason honor.
 
Additionally, the Patriots were selected as the #16 team in the ABCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll. This is the highest ranking for the program in the poll since the preseason edition of the same poll in 2021 in which they were ranked #11.
 
PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

• UT Tyler finished the 2024 season 29-23 overall and 28-20 in LSC play on the way to finishing 5^th in the LSC and making their third consecutive LSC Tournament.
• The Patriots have defended their home ballpark in a big way over their first years of Division II. Going back to their first season of Division II eligibility (2022), the Patriots are 67-34 inside Irwin Field prior to the 2025 season.
• Head Coach Brent Porche enters his ninth season with UT Tyler and holds a record of 250-124 with the Patriots. He holds a career record of 397-207 in his 13 total seasons.
• On March 10^th, 2024 with a win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, Coach Porche became the all-time winningest coach in UT Tyler Baseball history, surpassing James Vilade for the top spot.
• The Patriots will return several key contributors from the 2024 season, with returning All-American Rawley Hector headlining a pitching staff that includes former All-American's Dylan Blomquist and Garrett Arredondo. Joining those pitchers will be several key bats including Blake LaBuda, Kyle Atkinson, Kaston Mason, and Connor Clark.
• Joining those returners will be a cast of highly touted newcomers. The Patriots brought in the #2 ranked JUCO class according to JBB, and also added the #34 transfer portal class according to 64 Analytics.
• Through opening weekend, the Patriots have the top offense in the LSC in runs scored (56), hits (54), doubles (18), home runs (7), RBIs (53), slugging percentage (.683) and walks (34).

 
RAMS NOTES AND TRENDS

• #2 Angelo State opened up the 2025 season with a series sweep of UT Permian Basin. The Rams scored 10 runs in each of the games while never allowing more than three on their way to 10-0, 18-3, 11-3, and 12-1 wins over the Falcons.
• The Rams offense saw five different players hit at least .500 on opening weekend, with Tayten Tredaway leading the way at .611. He finished the series 11-for-18 with four doubles and 10 RBI while also scoring five runs.
• The pitching staff posted a team ERA of 1.61. Nick Wilson started opening day by going six innings and allowing no runs while giving up just two hits and striking out six. Dax Dathe picked up a win from the bullpen after throwing five innings and allowing one unearned run off of two hits in Saturday's doubleheader.
• The Rams were selected as the number one team in the LSC preseason poll, and were also selected as the #2 team in the NCBWA, ABCA, and D2 Baseball preseason polls.
• Kevin Brooks is the head coach of the program and is in his 21 season. He holds a record of 790-354 in his Rams career.