ECU's Lawhorn Earns National Freshman of the Year Honors

Darryl Lawhorn

East Carolina first baseman Darryl Lawhorn was been named tri-National Freshmen of the Year by Collegiate Baseball, the newspaper announced on Wednesday. Lawhorn becomes the first player in ECU history to earn National Freshman of the Year honors and shares the award with RHP Phillip Humber and first baseman Vincent Sinisi, both of Rice University. He is one of 14 Conference USA players to receive National Freshmen All-American recognition by the publication.

Lawhorn, first team All-Conference USA and C-USA Freshman of the Year, finished his rookie campaign with a .416 batting average, 19 home runs and 68 RBI, while establishing ECU single season records for hits (104) and total bases (179). He is the first player in school history to collect 100 hits during a season.

Joining Lawhorn on the Freshman All-American squad are the following six players:

Louisville lefthander Zach Jackson (tied a school record with 10 victories)
East Carolina reliever Greg Bunn (3.26 ERA, 7 saves)
Southern Miss reliever Cliff Russum (2.39 ERA, 4 saves)
Southern Miss catcher Brad Willcutt (.28, 9 HR, 53 RBI)
Southern Miss second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir (.320, 17 doubles)
Southern Miss shortstop Matt Shepherd (.315, 10 doubles)

An additional seven players received All-America honorable mention:

Cincinnati righthander Kyle Markle (6-2, 4.74 ERA)
South Florida catcher Devin Ivany (.322, 10 HR, 56 RBI)
Houston second baseman Stuart Musslewhite (.303, 10 doubles)
South Florida third baseman Jeff Baisley (.team-leading .358, 11 doubles, 63 RBI)
Memphis infielder Brent Dlugach (.271, 8 HR, 28 RBI)
Tulane outfielder Gerald Clark (.291, 11 HR, 38 RBI)
Charlotte outfielder Adam Willard (.336, 7 doubles)

Lawhorn’s National Freshman of the Year honor gives Conference USA three National Freshmen of the Year in the last four years. Tulane pitcher/outfielder Michael Aubrey won the honor last season and Green Wave teammate James Jurries earned recognition in 1999.