A pair of sterling first-year campaigns by Andrew Vasquez and Greg Mahle netted each a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American award when Collegiate Baseball released its freshman team on Wednesday.
The Gauchos were represented by multiple freshman on the All-American for the first time since placing three players on the 2002 squad.
UCSB's Andrew Vasquez (Presidio Sports Photo)
Vasquez led the Big West with a 1.93 ERA and started a team-best 15 games. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native struck out 104 batters ? the most by a freshman at UCSB since Barry Zito in 1997 ? and held opponents to conference-low .190 batting average against. The left-hander was primarily the Gauchos’ Friday starter and led the staff with 88.2 innings pitched.
Mahle hit .347, which was fifth-best in the conference, and tied for the team lead with 35 RBI. The Westminster, Calif. native was also the Gauchos’ closer as he recorded a team-best four saves and struck out 45 batters in 46.1 innings pitched.
Each player was named to the All-Big West Second Team and were one of just two Big West teams to have multiple winners on the exclusive list.
“This is a tremendous honor for both of these young men, who meant so much to our team this season,” said UCSB head coach Andrew Checketts. “They are certainly deserving of this award and their futures are bright as Gauchos.”
