ODESSA, Texas (January 23, 2025) – The Justin Phillips era begins in just over a week for the UT Permian Basin baseball team with first pitch slated for January 31 in San Angelo, Texas. When the dust settles at the end of the season, the Falcons are projected to make the conference tournament and finish in seventh place according to the 2025 Lone Star Conference preseason poll.

2024 was an historic season for the Falcons, who won 35 games overall (35-25), their most wins since 2010, finished fourth in the LSC with a record of 28-20, and won a game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. UTPB also hosted the opening round of the Lone Star Conference playoffs, a first for the program, and earned the No. 5 seed in the NCAA South Central Regional tournament, breaking a 15-year drought of making an appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Falcons will be led this season by new Head Baseball Coach Justin Phillips.

Angelo State is the favorite to win its eighth Lone Star Conference baseball title according to the poll. ASU totaled 483 points and collected 29 of the possible 39 first-place votes in the poll. The Rams were 44-21 overall and 32-16 in league play last season en route to finishing as the NCAA Division II national runner-ups. ASU, which won the first baseball national championship for the school and conference in 2023, became the first team since 2007 to appear in back-to-back national title games. The Rams have won four consecutive South Central Super Regional crowns.

Defending LSC champion Lubbock Christian was picked as the runner-up with 457 points and five first-place votes. The Chaparrals went 45-16 overall and 35-13 in conference play. They won the conference tournament and reached the super regional.

West Texas A&M was the third-place selection with 411 points and two first-place votes. The Buffaloes went 37-19 overall and 34-14 to finish as the conference runner-up and reached the NCAA tournament. WT has won three LSC titles (2021, 2018 and 2015).

UT Tyler was selected in the fourth spot with 386 points and one first-place vote. The Patriots went 29-23 overall and 28-20 in conference play.

St. Edward's (311 points) was predicted to finish fifth, followed by six-time LSC champion Texas A&M-Kingsville (268) and NCAA tournament team UT Permian Basin (266) to round out what would be the seven teams to qualify for the LSC Championship.

Texas A&M International (234 points) was the eighth-place selection and picked up the final two first-place votes. St. Mary's was selected ninth with 205 points, followed by Eastern New Mexico (200 points), Cameron (143), Oklahoma Christian (119) and new league member Sul Ross State (66).

The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

Additionally, 26 players – 13 position players and 13 pitchers – were selected for the LSC Baseball Preseason Players to Watch list. The student-athletes were nominated by their member institution.

Trevor Barth is a senior right-handed pitcher from Beaverton, Oregon, set to embark upon his third season in a Falcon uniform. He finished the 2024 season 6-5 overall with a 5.57 earned run average across 17 appearances, 15 starts and 84.0 innings. Barth threw seven shutout innings and allowed just five hits as UTPB eliminated No. 18 and defending national champion Angelo State 3-0 during the Lone Star Conference Championships last season.

Kaleb Scull is a senior shortstop from Lubbock, Texas. He is transferring to UTPB from Wheeling University (W.Va.) where he started in 50 games and hit .260 with 31 runs, 39 hits, 10 doubles, three home runs, 27 runs batted in, 19 walks, and seven stolen bases. He also a had a .950 fielding percentage on 180 chances and helped turn 21 double plays.

The LSC baseball season begins as early as Jan. 31. Throughout the year, all 13 LSC teams will play a single round-robin schedule with a four-game weekend series against each league opponent.

The Falcons will be on the road when they return to the diamond on Friday (Jan. 31), taking on Angelo State at 3 p.m. to start a four-game series that will take place over three days (Jan. 31-Feb. 2).

The Falcons welcome Texas A&M International to Roden Field on February 7 for their home opener. 

The LSC Baseball Championship will feature a two-week tournament comprised of the top seven teams. The opening round is best-of-three series and will be held May 2-4 at the sites of the No. 2 (vs. No. 7), 3 (vs. 6) and 4 (vs. 5) seeds. The league's top seed from the regular season will receive an opening-round bye and host the double-elimination championship round on May 8-10. The LSC Tournament Champion will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championship.

Fans can watch LSC baseball games all season on FloCollege. Monthly and yearly subscriptions are available.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FALCONS 2025 SCHEDULE
2025 LSC Baseball Preseason Poll/Players to Watch