RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Seven Mulerider Baseball players have been named to the All-Conference teams which were released today on the eve of the GAC Tournament in Enid, Oklahoma. 13 Muleriders were also named to the GAC Honor Roll in the postseason awards.
Jeremy Adorno, Austin Adair, and Trace Shoup were all named First Team All-GAC as Jayden Hill and Lee Matsuzaki were named to the Second Team All-GAC. Beau Leonards, and Brandon Nicoll rounded out the Mulerider award winners as they were both named Honorable Mentions
First Team All-GAC
Adorno, a senior from Kissimmee, Florida has had an amazing season for the Muleriders on the mound. He has claimed three GAC Pitcher of the Week honors this season while leading the staff with 86.2 innings pitched, 97 strikeouts, two shutouts, and three complete games. In his final campaign as a Mulerider, opponents are batting just .245 against him while he boasts a 3.32 ERA and 6-2 win loss record.
Adair, a senior from Pflugerville, Texas has seen a lot of action this season on the mound for the Muleriders making 22 appearances, throwing 43.1 innings which is fourth best on the team. Adair boasts a 7-1 record while he has also racked up seven saves this season. Opponents are batting just .220 against him while he boasts a 2.49 ERA and 37 strikeouts as the main closer for the staff.
Shoup, a senior from El Dorado, Arkansas currently leads the Muleriders offense with a .351 batting average. Trace has totaled 60 hits this season along with 11 home runs, three triples, a 1.043 OPS, .411 on base percentage, and .632 slugging percentage. The senior has also swiped eight bases in 10 attempts this season.
Second Team All-GAC
Hill, a senior from Frisco, Texas has seen a lot of action for the Muleriders this season. Hill has started and played in all 49 regular season games for the Blue and Gold while boasting a .324 batting average, 60 hits, 38 RBIs, nine home runs, .976 OPS, .425 on base percentage, and .551 slugging percentage. He is also 6-for-7 on stolen base attempts this season.
Matsuzaki, a junior from Honolulu, Hawaii has also seen significant action for the Blue and Gold. He has started and played in all 49 games this season finishing regular season play with a .330 batting average, 65 hits, seven home runs, .533 slugging percentage, .943 OPS, .410 on base percentage, 15 doubles, and 45 RBIs.
Honorable Mentions
Leonards, a senior from Frisco, Texas has been a main stay in the weekend rotation for the Muleriders this season. He has started in 13 games this season while also receiving the honor of being the opening day starter against Missouri Southern University. The southpaw has notched 62.2 innings pitched this season totaling 61 strikeouts, a 4.74 ERA, 6-4 win loss record, 1.45 WHIP, while opponents are hitting .247 against him.
Nicoll, a senior from Langley, British Columbia has had a record breaking year for the Muleriders. Nicoll became the all-time leader for not only SAU but the GAC in career RBIs this season and currently sits with 240 career RBIs heading into the tournament. Nicoll currently has a .299 batting average, 56 hits, 43 RBIs, .578 slugging percentage, .961 OPS, .383 on base percentage, while leading the team in home runs with 14.
GAC Academic Honor Roll
Cade Browning
Clay Burrows
Nate June
Landon McAllister
Josh Phillips
Carston Poole
Jackson Regan
Jared Rhodes
Grant Roosma
Jack Roubik
Ryan Slunder
Trace Shoup
Caleb Sollars
To view the full list of All-Conference award winners click here.
