DALLAS – Second baseman Bryan Arias and right-handed pitcher Karan Patel earned All-Conference USA First Team honors, the league office announced Tuesday.
"I'm proud of Karan and Bryan for the type of season they've put together but also the type of men they've become over the years," UTSA Head Coach Jason Marshall said. "Being named All-Conference First Team is an elite status, no matter which conference it is.
"To be singled out by other coaches in C-USA says a lot about the impression made on a weekly basis and the level of consistency you have to have throughout the spring," Marshall said.
A San Antonio, Texas native, Arias hit .340 (68-200) in 54 games, with 13 doubles, two triples and a team-high nine home runs. The senior Roadrunner led the team with 51 runs scored and drove in 39. From April 26 and May 4, Arias homered in six consecutive games.
Arias ranks third in the league with 40 walks, sixth in batting average (.340), runs scored (51) and on-base percentage (.455), ninth in slugging percentage (.560) and total bases (112).
"Bryan has been the best hitter in the clubhouse since he arrived four years ago," Marshall said. "His strength and production have made him one of the top hitters in C-USA. For him to go out and be named the top hitter in the California Collegiate League this past summer and then to follow it up with an All-Conference First Team selection just reaffirms the kid can hit. He is tying a bow on one of the best careers of any position player that's ever played at UTSA."
Patel, a senior from Sugar Land, Texas, posted a 4-5 record during the season with a 2.82 ERA as UTSA's Friday night starter. He allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of his 14 starts, recording 10 quality starts.
Patel's 13-strikeout performance in final regular season start of his career, established career high and he completed the campaign with 102 strikeouts in 89.1 innings of work. The 102 punch outs is a Roadrunners' program record in a single season.
"Karan just keeps getting better and you see it reflected in his strikeouts, batting average against, innings pitched and ERA," Marshall said. "You just don't know how hard pitching on Friday night is but it's not lost on our players and staff.
"To go against the other team's best each week and put your team in a position to win is not easy. It takes a combination of poise and quality stuff and KP has shown both this entire season," Marshall said.
Among C-USA pitchers, Patel is one of 11 to make a league-best 14 starts. He ranks second in ERA and innings pitched (89.1), fourth in strikeouts, seventh in opponent batting average (.233) and 10thwith 23 strikeouts looking.
"Both of these guys were thrown into the fire as freshmen on an injury-plagued 2016 team and cut their teeth in a down year for Roadrunner baseball," Marshall said. "They helped get the program back into the post-season for the third consecutive season. That says a lot for them and the type of program they are leaving behind."
2019 CONFERENCE USA BASEBALL AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jake Sanford, Jr., OF, WKU
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Matt Canterino, Jr., RHP, Rice
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Andy Garriola, Fr., OF, Old Dominion
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Jake Sanford, Jr., OF, WKU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Pedro Pages, Jr., C, Florida Atlantic
KEITH LeCLAIR COACH OF THE YEAR
John McCormack, Florida Atlantic
ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Greg Mamula, Florida Atlantic
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
IF Bryan Arias, Sr., UTSA
IF Mason Mallard, Sr., Louisiana Tech
IF Elvis Peralta, Jr., Marshall
IF Vinnie Pasquantino, Jr., Old Dominion
OF Andy Garriola, Fr., Old Dominion
OF Jake Sanford, Jr., WKU
OF Matt Wallner, Jr., Southern Miss
C Harris Yett, Sr., Charlotte
DH Andrew Dunlap, Sr., Rice
UT Logan Allen, So., FIU
SP Matt Canterino, Jr., Rice
SP Karan Patel, Sr., UTSA
SP Walker Powell, Jr., Southern Miss
SP Blake Sanderson, Sr., Florida Atlantic
RP Braxton Smith, Sr., Louisiana Tech
RP Zach Schneider, Sr., Florida Atlantic
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
IF Trei Cruz, So., Rice
IF Austin Shenton, Jr., FIU
IF Hunter Slater, Sr., Southern Miss
IF Bryce Windham, Sr., Old Dominion
OF Parker Bates, Jr., Louisiana Tech
OF Gabe Montenegro, So., Southern Miss
OF Andru Summerall, So., Florida Atlantic
C Pedro Pages, Jr., Florida Atlantic
DH Bryant Bowen, Jr., Southern Miss
UT Peyton Wigginton, So., Middle Tennessee
SP Joshua Shapiro, Sr., Marshall
SP Evan Kravetz, So., Rice
SP Matt Miller, Sr., Louisiana Tech
SP Ryne Moore, So., Old Dominion
RP Hunter Gregory, So., Old Dominion
RP Colby Bruce, Jr., Charlotte
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
3B Josh Haney, Charlotte
IF Danny Lynch, Southern Miss
OF/IF Luke Edwards, Marshall
OF Jarrett Ford, FIU
OF Mitchell Hartigan, Florida Atlantic
OF Andy Garriola, Old Dominion
OF Ryan Teschko, Old Dominion
OF Jess Davis, UAB
OF Jackson Swiney, WKU
LHP Jonathan Fincher, Louisiana Tech
RHP Josh Young, Middle Tennessee
SS/RHP Jacob Josey, Florida Atlantic
- UTSA -
