Bulldogs trio named All-SWAC baseball

HUNTSVILLE -- When the Bulldogs take the field Wednesday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament, they will be led by a trio of All-SWAC players.

Seniors Ty Russell and Josh Burchell and junior Brandon Marsonek were named to the second team of the 2016 All-SWAC baseball team announced Monday. The awards and All-SWAC team selections were voted on by the league's head coaches and Sports Information Directors.

Russell, a designated hitter, was one of the league's hottest hitters over the last 11 games. He was 16 of 39 (.410), raising his batting average nearly 60 points to .293 and hitting safely in 10 of the those 11 games. He finished the year with seven home runs (6th in the conference), 28 runs batted in, a .528 slugging percentage, 24 walks (among the top 10 in the SWAC) and a .417 on-base percentage.

Burchell, an iron horse starting pitcher, had five complete games to lead the SWAC and was No. 6 in the nation; his 12 starts were third in the conference. He had 82 strikeouts (third in the SWAC and 45th-most nationally) and 27 of those strikeouts were looking, which was fourth most in the SWAC.

Marsonek, an innings-eating starter/reliever, was named second team relief pitcher. He was tied with teammate Caleb Roberts for most appearances in the league with 27 (19th-most nationally). Marsonek was second in the league and 25th in the nation with 88 strikeouts - 33 were looking which was second in the SWAC. His three saves were fourth in the league and he was second in games finished with 14.

The Bulldogs, seeded fourth in the SWAC East, will face the West's top seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the tournament.

To keep up with the action, visit www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=210686596.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Ty Russell: 1B; 6' 0"; Senior; L/R

#23 Caleb Roberts: RHP; 6' 0"; Senior; R/R

#34 Brandon Marsonek: LHP; 6' 1"; Junior; L/L

#77 Josh Burchell: RHP; 6' 7"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Ty Russell
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/R
: 1B

#23 Caleb Roberts
: 6' 0"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#34 Brandon Marsonek
: 6' 1"; Junior; L/L
: LHP

#77 Josh Burchell
: 6' 7"; Senior; R/R
: RHP