June 13, 2006

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall designated hitter Brendan Murphy (Jr., Chattanooga, Tenn.) has been named to the 2006 ABCA & Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team. Murphy also was named Second-Team All-Conference USA this season.

Murphy finished the year with a .315 batting average and a team-high 15 home runs and 70 RBI. His RBI mark is the second most for a Marshall player in a single season, behind only Jason Brooks' record of 73 in 2001. Murphy also finished the season with 19 doubles - tied for third most in a single season at Marshall.

With College World Series-bound Rice as the lone Conference USA team yet to complete its schedule, Murphy ranks among the top 10 in Conference USA in RBI (70, tied-first), home runs (15, fourth), slugging percentage (.640, fourth), doubles (19, eighth) and total bases (130, 10th).

Twelve of the 26 members of the two teams were selected in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, held earlier this week. The 13 All-Mideast Region First Team honorees will be eligible to earn ABCA & Rawlings All-America status.

2006 ABCA & Rawlings All-Mideast Region Teams
First Team
Pitcher - Dan Brauer, Northwestern, JR*
Pitcher - Jeff Fischer, Eastern Michigan, SO
Pitcher - Jeff Manship, Notre Dame, JR*
Reliever - Matt German, Northern Illinois, JR
Catcher - Justin Johnson, Illinois-Chicago, SR*
First Base - Brad Miller, Ball State, SR*
Second Base - Eric Lawson, Bowling Green, JR
Third Base - Ronnie Bourquin, Ohio State, JR*
Shortstop - Emmanuel Burriss, Kent State, JR*
Outfield - Bart Babineaux, Illinois-Chicago, SR
Outfield - Mike Goetz, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, SR*
Outfield - Bryan Mitzel, Central Michigan, JR
DH - Anthony Gressick, Ohio, SR*

Second Team
Pitcher - Dan DeLucia, Ohio State, JR
Pitcher - Zach Peterson, Illinois-Chicago, JR
Pitcher - Chad Wagler, Kent State, SR*
Reliever - Joe Smith, Wright State, JR*
Catcher - Eric Fryer, Ohio State, SO
First Base - Craig Cooper, Notre Dame, SR*
Second Base - Keith Haas, Indiana, JR
Third Base - Andrew Davis, Kent State, JR
Shortstop - Mitch Hilligoss, Purdue, JR*
Outfield - Matt Angle, Ohio State, SO
Outfield - Mark Chagnon, Eastern Illinois, JR
Outfield - Kurt Eichorn, Kent State, SR
DH - Brendan Murphy, Marshall, JR

*Selected in 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft