FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball is set to welcome the defending national champions to Crowder Field this week, as Angelo State pays the Lions a visit.
First pitch of the series has been moved up to noon on Friday, followed by 1 p.m. starts on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will feature doubleheader action. All four games will be broadcast on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network with live stats available at uafortsmithlions.com.
Friday's and Saturday's games will also be broadcast on KFPW-AM 1230 with Sunday's game on Fox Sports Radio 103.5.
NOTES:
LAST WEEK: The Lions split a pair of road games at Lubbock Christian, moving them to 9-3 on the season.
POTW: Outfielder Brandon Ulmer was named the LSC Hitter of the Week after hitting for the cycle and tying the program record with eight RBIs in a 25-6 win at Lubbock Christian. For the week, Ulmer slashed .538 with a homer, 10 RBIs, seven runs, three doubles and a triple.
IN THE POLLS: UAFS is receiving six votes in this week's NCBWA Top 25 poll. UAFS is also fourth in the NCBWA South Central Region poll.
10: Both the Lions and Rams enter the weekend leading the LSC scoring over 10 runs per game. UAFS leads the league and is 12th nationally with 10.6 runs per game. UAFS has scored at least 10 runs in eight of 12 games this season.
RISP: The Lions are hitting a blistering .415 with runners in scoring position while limiting opponents to a .231 batting average with runners in scoring position.
AT THE PLATE: UAFS leads the LSC and is sixth nationally with a .355 batting average with four players batting over .400 and in the top 10 in the league. Ulmer tops the league with a .488 average. Six players for the Lions have driven in at least 13 runs led by infielder Noah Davis with 18.
ON THE MOUND: The Lions are second in the LSC with a 4.50 ERA. UAFS has four of the top 10 ERA leaders, led by Luke Davenport with a 2.25 ERA in 16.0 innings.
SCOUTING ASU: The Rams lost three out of four last weekend to UT Tyler and are receiving three votes in this week's NCBWA Top 25 poll. At 9-7, the Rams are led offensively by catcher Tripp Clark, who is hitting .424 with four homers and 24 RBIs. On the mound, righty Braxton Pearson has a 1-1 record and a 2.29 ERA with 24 strikeouts.
THE SERIES: The Lions are just 1-11 all-time against the Rams, with the lone win coming in the 2021 LSC Tournament.
