ATLANTA --- Six FGCU baseball student-athletes earned postseason athletic honors from the ASUN Conference this afternoon, led by First Team All-ASUN selections
Brian Ellis and
Richie Garcia.
Joe Kinker and
Mason Studstill were named second-team all-conference, while
Ian Farrow and
Johnny Long were each tabbed to the all-freshmen team.
Richie Garcia
1st Team All-ASUN
Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) joins Jake Noll as the only two players in program history to be twice named First Team All-ASUN and the ASUN Freshman of the Year in a career. The shortstop is hitting .293 with 39 runs, nine doubles, five home runs and 40 RBI with an .816 OPS this spring. His RBI total ranks 5th in the ASUN. Nationally, he is ranked the 68th toughest player in the country to strike out. He has 11 multi-hit games and broke FGCU's single-game hit record against Stetson on March 27 by going 6-for-6 with five runs and a pair of doubles.
"Richie is one of the best players we've ever had," FGCU head coach
Dave Tollett said. "The best thing I can say about him is what other coaches say, and that is they'd give anything to have a player like him. He plays the game the right way. His passion is second to none."
Overall, Garcia is one of FGCU's all-time leaders in many categories with a .294 all-time batting average and career totals of 25 home runs, 169 RBI, 51 doubles and 149 runs. After nabbing the conference's award for the top freshmen in 2017, he was named First Team All-ASUN in 2018, and he was a preseason all-conference team member this year. He also has three career player of the week awards, which is the second-most in program history.
Brian Ellis
1st Team All-ASUN
Ellis (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS) leads all conference players with a .378 batting average, while also compiling a 1.002 OPS. He leads the ASUN in hits (65) and OBP (.502) while ranking second in walks (32). On the team, he leads FGCU in runs (44), triples (2) and HBP (13) while hitting .438 (32-for-73) over past 20 games. Nationally, he ranks among the top 60 players in walks (58th), batting average (48th), HBP (37th), hits (15th), OBP (23rd) and runs (58th). He has swiped seven bags on the season, has totaled 22 multi-hit games, including a trio of three-hit performances over the final four games of the regular season, and carries a five-game hitting streak into postseason.
"It might be a surprise to others what type of breakout season Brian has had, but it isn't to us because we know how hard he works every day," Tollett said. "We've seen his progression. He's a student of the game, and he has a really bright future."
Joe Kinker
2nd Team All-ASUN
Kinker (North Port, Fla./Venice HS), a 2019 ASUN All-Freshmen Team member, earned second team recognition by hitting .285 with 37 runs, 49 hits, nine doubles, 43 RBI and 25 walks. He blasted an ASUN-best 13 home runs, which ranks 22nd nationally, and he has posted a .946 OPS with six of his home runs coming over 15 conference games. Among ASUN hitters, he ranks among the top 10 in runs (9th), home runs (1st), RBI (2nd), walks (10th) and slugging (4th). He will carry an 11-game hitting streak into postseason.
"Joe's a guy that is circled in everyone's lineup," Tollett said. "He's that guy that's the threat. He's had a great year for us and learned so much. He's always had good power, but he's becoming a better hitter. I expect his numbers, in the future, to be a lot better because he learns each game and each at bat. He's second team all-conference this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's an All-American next year."
Mason Studstill
2nd Team All-ASUN
Studstill (Titusville, Fla./Rockledge HS/Eastern Florida State/Miami) has compiled a 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA as FGCU's Friday night starter. In 75 innings over 12 appearances, he has registered 68 strikeouts (4th in ASUN) compared to just 31 walks. Nationally, he ranks fourth in games started (12) and 26th in wins (7). In total, Studstill has registered a 2.58 career ERA in the Green and Blue with a 15-4 record and 199 punchouts over 184.2 innings.
"Mason falls in line with our all-time great Friday night guys," Tollett said. "He's up there with Chris Sale, Richard Bleier, Ricky Knapp, Michael Murray, etc. He's up
there. He's also one of the best leaders I've ever coached. He does so many great things with that pitching staff. He has their attention."
Ian Farrow
ASUN All-Freshmen Team
Farrow (Merritt Island, Fla./Merritt Island HS) made 36 starts over 41 appearances while hitting .296 with 21 runs, a team-best 12 doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI and a .414 on base percentage as a true freshman. His OBP is 2nd on the team and his .881 OPS is fourth-best. He also has 10 multi-hit games, led by a 4-for-4, three-RBI performance against Stetson on April 25, and his .467 slugging percentage is fourth on the team. Furthermore, he has been hit by the pitch nine times, which is second most in the team.
"Ian has been so impressive," Tollett said of Farrow, who was unanimously selected to the all-freshmen team. "He has so much potential. What you've seen this year out of him, I feel is on the path of the Rivera's, the Jake Noll's. I don't want to put that (pressure) on anyone, but that's the type of player he is."
Johnny Long
ASUN All-Freshmen Team
Long (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) is hitting .294 with 24 runs, six doubles, one home run, 17 RBI and 17 walks over 39 appearances, including 36 starts behind the plate. The second-year freshman has 12 multi-hit games, and his .294 average is 23rd in the ASUN. His .406 on base percentage is 12th best among conference hitters.
"Johnny's been great behind the plate for us," Tollett said. "He's been a leader. To be a catcher and run our defense is a lot harder than people know. There's a lot that goes into catching at FGCU, and he's been one of the best we've had."
Notes
The Eagles will begin their postseason journey Friday night at 6:30 p.m. against Jacksonville inside Swanson Stadium. The game is the first in a best of three ASUN quarterfinal series.
2021 ASUN Baseball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Alex Kachler, North Florida
Pitcher of the Year: Trevor Delaite, Liberty
Defensive Player of the Year: Cam Locklear, Liberty
Freshman of the Year: Trey Gibson, Liberty
Coach of the Year: Scott Jackson, Liberty
First Team All-Conference
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| *SP |
Trevor Delaite |
Liberty |
Sr. |
Bangor, Maine |
| SP |
Jake Rice |
Kennesaw State |
Gr. |
Birmingham, Ala. |
| SP |
Nick Durgin |
Stetson |
Fr. |
Melbourne, Fla. |
| RP |
Fraser Ellard |
Liberty |
Sr. |
Roswell, Ga. |
| C |
Gray Betts |
Liberty |
So |
Raleigh, N.C. |
| *1B |
Alex Kachler |
North Florida |
Gr. |
Lithia, Fla. |
| *2B |
Will Wagner |
Liberty |
Jr. |
Crozet, Va. |
| 3B |
Josh Finerty |
Bellarmine |
Sr. |
Louisville, Ky. |
| SS |
Richie Garcia |
FGCU |
Sr. |
Davie, Fla. |
| OF |
Brian Ellis |
FGCU |
So |
Oviedo, Fla. |
| OF |
Aaron Anderson |
Liberty |
Jr. |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| OF |
Hernen Sardinas |
Stetson |
Gr. |
Miami, Fla. |
| DH |
Garrett Hodges |
Kennesaw State |
Sr. |
Guyton, Ga. |
* denotes unanimous First Team selection
ASUN Second Team All-Conference
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| SP |
Mason Studstill |
FGCU |
Sr. |
Titusville, Fla. |
| SP |
Ryan Kennedy |
Kennesaw State |
Jr. |
Winchester, Va. |
| SP |
Trey Gibson |
Liberty |
Fr. |
Yorktown, Va. |
| RP |
Tyler Guilfoil |
Lipscomb |
So. |
Lexington, Ky. |
| C |
Tyler Tolve |
Kennesaw State |
So. |
Marietta, Ga. |
| 1B |
Joe Kinker |
FGCU |
So. |
North Port, Fla. |
| 2B |
Jesse Sherrill |
Kennesaw State |
So. |
Cantonment, Fla. |
| 3B |
Trey McDyre |
Liberty |
Sr. |
Purcellville, Va. |
| SS |
Cam Locklear |
Liberty |
Sr. |
Lumberton, N.C. |
| OF |
Matt Higgins |
Bellarmine |
Jr. |
Louisville, Ky. |
| OF |
Alex Carballo |
Kennesaw State |
Sr. |
Pembroke Pines, Fla. |
| OF |
Andrew MacNeil |
Stetson |
Gr. |
Gainesville, Fla. |
| DH |
Brady Gulakowski |
Liberty |
Jr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
ASUN All-Freshmen Team
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Hometown |
| *SP |
Trey Gibson |
Liberty |
Yorktown, Va. |
| *1B |
Davis Crane |
Bellarmine |
Louisville, Ky. |
| *Util. |
Ian Farrow |
FGCU |
Merritt Island, Fla. |
| *2B |
Aidan Sweatt |
North Florida |
Fernandina Beach, Fla. |
| *SP |
Nick Durgin |
Stetson |
Melbourne, Fla. |
| *1B |
Brandon Hylton |
Stetson |
Basking Ridge, N.J. |
| *C |
Christian Pregent |
Stetson |
Daytona Beach, Fla. |
| C |
Johnny Long |
FGCU |
Naples, Fla. |
| 3B |
Jackson Grabsky |
Jacksonville |
Orlando, Fla. |
| 2B |
Jesus Pacheco |
Jacksonville |
Weston, Fla. |
| OF |
Tiger Borom |
Lipscomb |
Jonesboro, Ga. |
| RP |
Nick Willard |
Liberty |
Yorktown, Va. |
| RP |
Jovan Gill |
Stetson |
Fort Myers, Fla. |
* Denotes unanimous All-Freshmen Team selection
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COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 635-383-3 overall record (.623) and a 211-115 (.647) record in the ASUN. He is the only head coach in the program's history and led the program to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. He is a five-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to five ASUN Regular Season Championships and one ASUN Tournament Championship. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions, including as high as No. 9 in the country in 2017, and has coached 54 all-conference selections, 33 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 13 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, three ASUN Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one seven-time MLB All-Star.
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 85 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 42 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 21, 2020-21), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2021) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 23 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, and 2020 Fall semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
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