WMU's Allison, Kent State's Murray Named ABCA All-Americans
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Western Michigan's Tanner Allison & Kent State's Joey Murray have been named All-Americans by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods.
Allison was named a Second Team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings following his stellar junior season. Allison set the Western Michigan single season RBI record with 68, passing Frank Alferi's previous high of 63 set in 1999. He was named the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year, the first from WMU since Scott Conant in 1991, and named First Team All-MAC. He ended the season ranked No. 12 in total RBI and sixth in RBI per game (1.28) and led the team with .356 batting average, 77 hits, 18 doubles, nine home runs, 68 RBI, .574 slugging percentage. He had a 20-game hit streak from Feb. 19 to March 31 and had a streak of four games where he homered in each one and had nine RBI. Allison had 21 multiple hit games and two games with four hits.
Murray earned Third Team ABCA/Rawlings honors following a fantastic sophomore campaign. The 2017 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year, currently ranks 20th in the nation in strikeouts and 5th in strikeouts per nine innings. He joins a distinguished group of former Golden Flashes who were also named Collegiate Baseball All-Americans, including teammates and fellow hurlers Eric Lauer and Eli Kraus who were both recognized in 2016. Murray finished the season with a miniscule 1.80 ERA while going 6-1 with an impressive 110 strikeouts in 75.0 innings. He walked just 32 batters in 14 starts.
First recognized in 1949, the ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans are selected by the ABCA All-America committee, which is chaired by Dean Ehehalt of Monmouth University. The committee also includes head coaches Mike Stone (Massachusetts), Brian O'Connor (Virginia), Butch Thompson (Auburn), Steve Jaksa (Central Michigan), Dan Heefner (Dallas Baptist), Tommy Raffo (Arkansas State) and George Horton (Oregon).
