May 12, 2009

Seniors Wes Willis and Michael Murphy cap-off a stellar career at Southwestern University by being selected to the 2009 All-SCAC Baseball team. In exclusive voting by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference head coaches, Willis joins eight other pitchers and Murphy joins three other catchers in the report.

Willis, a starting pitcher from Austin, Texas, led the Pirates in numerous pitching categories this season. He had the best ERA at 3.54, most wins with six, and led Southwestern in complete games with four, including a complete game shutout against conference rival Trinity. In 73.2 innings of work Willis allowed just 71 hits, 29 earned runs with 54 strike outs and held opponents to just .253 from the plate.

Murphy, a catcher from Houston, Texas, led Southwestern at the plate this year with a .367 batting average, 55 hits, a .493 slugging percentage, and doubles with 13 including three in one game against Austin College. He was also second on the team with 26 runs scored and 27 runs batted in. In his 150 at bats, Murphy has struck out just seven times, the lowest for a Pirate with more than 30 at bats. In Southwestern's final conference games of the season, Murphy recorded his 200th career hit. He was also selected as Southwestern's representative in the first-ever SCAC All-Sportsmanship team.

Joining Willis and Murphy in the report were sophomore Kyle Belski, senior Brent McMullen and sophomore Brantley Freeman who were named as honorable mention selections.

Belski played first base and designated hitter for Southwestern this season. He led the team in runs batted in with 31 and walks with 22 and was fourth with a .330 batting average. Belski was also second in slugging percentage at .477 and doubles (10). In addition to his work at the plate, Belski posted the best fielding percentage at .991.

McMullen was a second baseman for the Pirates this year and was second on the team with a .355 batting average and .457 on base percentage. He scored 22 runs which was third best on the team this season.

Freeman, a sophomore starting pitcher, was second in active starters in earned run average (3.82) and posted the best win percentage going 5-3 this season. He allowed just 63 hits and 27 earned runs in 63.2 innings of work. Opponents have been held to a just .256 batting average against Freeman and he has struck out the most batters this year (66). Freeman was also an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection this year.

The Pirates ended the season in fourth place in the conference with a 16-23 overall record and 9-11 in conference action.

To view the complete report, please click here.