(Courtesy: Gonzaga Athletics) DURHAM, N.C. - Gonzaga University sophomore pitcher/first baseman Marco Gonzales has been named to the Baseball America All-American First Team, as voted by the staff of Baseball America after the first weekend of the College World Series.
Gonzales becomes the third Bulldog to receive first team All-America accolades; joining Cody Martin (2011) and Nate Gold (2002). He made the first team as the lone utility player.
Gonzales, a native of Fort Collins, Colo., went 8-2 with a 1.55 ERA in 12 starts on the mound and hit .325 with 29 RBIs, 10 doubles, two homers and an OPS of .802. He was named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in ERA and finishing tied for second in wins. Gonzales became the third Gonzaga hurler to earn WCC Pitcher of the Year honors in the last four years and was named the 2011 Co-Freshman and Co-Player of the Year in the WCC.
He struck out 92 hitters in 92 2/3 innings while walking 23 innings, helping the Bulldogs to a 34-22 record and a third-place finish in the WCC. Opponents hit only .201 against him and managed only 12 extra-base hits.
He was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America second team, was a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-America selection, was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) District IX Player of the Year, and is one of three finalists for The College Baseball Hall of Fame's John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
