Mercer, Saalfrank Headline All-Big Ten Honors
5/21/2019 2:10:00 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. – Indiana baseball head coach Jeff Mercer and starting pitcher Andrew Saalfrank headlined IU's All-Big Ten award winners, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon. Mercer earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, while Saalfrank was named the Pitcher of the Year.
In addition to his Pitcher of the Year honors, Saalfrank earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team along with senior utility player Matt Lloyd. Junior Scotty Bradley, sophomore Cole Barr and junior Matt Gorski each made the second team, while sophomore Elijah Dunham earned third team laurels. Freshman Grant Richardson picked up All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors, while sophomore Drew Ashley was named the Sportsmanship Award winner.
Mercer, who is in his first season at the helm, led the Hoosiers to the 2019 Big Ten Regular Season title. He posted a 36-19 mark overall and a 17-7 record in conference action, heading into the Big Ten Tournament. He's put up a 113-67 career record after leading Wright State to winning seasons in each of his two years with the Raiders, including a 2018 Horizon League title and NCAA Regional appearance. Mercer won seven of his eight Big Ten series in his first season as IU's head coach. Dating back to his two years at Wright State, he has lost just two league series as a head coach (at Illinois in 2019, vs. UIC in 2017).
Saalfrank has been unbeatable for the Hoosiers on Sundays this season. The junior is second in the Big Ten in wins (8), third in strikeouts (96), fifth in ERA (2.58). In Big Ten games only, he was tied for first in wins (6), was second in strikeouts (64), and eighth in ERA (2.51). His 13 strikeouts against Penn State broke Joe DeNato's record (12 vs. Michigan on April 27, 2012) for most strikeouts by an IU pitcher in a Big Ten game.
More to Come...
In addition to his Pitcher of the Year honors, Saalfrank earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team along with senior utility player Matt Lloyd. Junior Scotty Bradley, sophomore Cole Barr and junior Matt Gorski each made the second team, while sophomore Elijah Dunham earned third team laurels. Freshman Grant Richardson picked up All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors, while sophomore Drew Ashley was named the Sportsmanship Award winner.
Mercer, who is in his first season at the helm, led the Hoosiers to the 2019 Big Ten Regular Season title. He posted a 36-19 mark overall and a 17-7 record in conference action, heading into the Big Ten Tournament. He's put up a 113-67 career record after leading Wright State to winning seasons in each of his two years with the Raiders, including a 2018 Horizon League title and NCAA Regional appearance. Mercer won seven of his eight Big Ten series in his first season as IU's head coach. Dating back to his two years at Wright State, he has lost just two league series as a head coach (at Illinois in 2019, vs. UIC in 2017).
Saalfrank has been unbeatable for the Hoosiers on Sundays this season. The junior is second in the Big Ten in wins (8), third in strikeouts (96), fifth in ERA (2.58). In Big Ten games only, he was tied for first in wins (6), was second in strikeouts (64), and eighth in ERA (2.51). His 13 strikeouts against Penn State broke Joe DeNato's record (12 vs. Michigan on April 27, 2012) for most strikeouts by an IU pitcher in a Big Ten game.
More to Come...
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