June 5, 2008
(Tucson, AZ) - Left-hander Matt Lujan and Outfielder Connor Bernatz both earned 2008 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American status as announced by Collegiate Baseball after stellar first-year campaigns on the Hilltop. This is the first time a Don has been named a Freshman All-American since the 2002 season when Cy Donald and Royce Fukuroku earned accolades. Lujan earned WCC First Team and WCC Freshman Team recognition for his spectacular first year on the Hilltop. Lujan led the Dons in conference play with a 5-2 record. He had a 4.19 ERA in seven starts, and struck out a team high 25 in 43.0 innings. Overall, he led the team with a 7-2 record (sixth in conference) and a 3.19 ERA (eighth in conference) in 11 starts. In 79.0 innings (sixth in conference), Lujan struck out 51 and walked just 29, while holding opponents to a .255 batting average. His biggest games were, an 8.0 inning 6-0 combined shutout over Fairleigh Dickenson (five strikeouts, one walk), a 5-1 victory at Saint Mary's (9.0 innings, three hits, one earned run, two strikeouts), and a 14-3 victory over then No. 8 San Diego (7.1 innings, two earned runs, six hits, seven strikeouts). Lujan was also named to the second annual All Ping! Freshman Team, earning Second Team honors. Bernatz earned WCC Freshman Team honors after an outstanding frosh season. Bernatz finished second on the team with a .347 batting average (66-for-190), with 10 doubles, one triple, two homeruns, 26 RBI, 28 runs scored, 14 walks, and three stolen bases. He was the only Don with five hits in a game, accomplishing the feat twice. First at Fresno State: five hits, one RBI, one run scored. Second at Gonzaga: five hits, one RBI. He had 17 total multi-hit games (two - 10 times; three - four times; four - once; five - twice).
Bernatz joins Lujan on the All Ping! Freshman Team, taking home Honorable Mention honors. The 2008 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-Americans feature a wealth of baseball talent from around the country. The team is headed by Collegiate Baseball's Freshman Pitcher of The Year, LHP Chris Hernandez of the University of Miami (Fla.) and Freshman Player of The Year, OF Ryan Lockwood of South Florida. Below is the complete list of the 2008 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-Americans as chosen by Collegiate Baseball.
Starting Pitchers LHP Chris Hernandez, Miami (Fla.) LHP Shane Davis, Canisius RHP Seth Maness, East Carolina LHP Mario Hollands, U.C. Santa Barbara LHP Matt Lujan, San Francisco RHP Brian Stroud, Western Michigan RHP Chance Ruffin, Texas RHP Chris Haney, Dallas Baptist LHP Cameron Roth, N.C. Wilmington LHP Dan Forman, Manhattan LHP Drew Pomeranz, Mississippi LHP Grant Dayton, Auburn RHP Drew Permison, Towson LHP Eric Jokisch, Northwestern RHP Justin Kraft, Centenary RHP Kevin Miller, California RHP Sam Dyson, South Carolina RHP Sean Hoelscher, Texas Christian RHP Chase Dempsay, Houston RHP Matt Harvey, North Carolina RHP Colin Bates, North Carolina RHP Dean Wolosiansky, Ohio St. RHP Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech. RHP Joe Yermal, N.C. Charlotte RHP Daniel Renken, Cal. St. Fullerton RHP Kyle Blair, San Diego RHP Stephen Harrold, N.C. Wilmington RHP Thain Simon, Santa Clara RHP Todd McInnis, Southern Mississippi RHP Drew Storen, Stanford |
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