Jayhawks Place Five on Academic All-Big 12 Teams

May 15, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Five Jayhawks have been named to the Academic All-Big 12 baseball teams, including four student-athletes on the first team. Seniors Justin Ellrich and Joe Southers were joined on the first team by juniors Nick Faunce and Paul Smyth. Senior Erik Morrison was named to the second team.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters. All players nominated must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests, while pitchers are required to have at least one inning pitched per game played by the team or have appeared in 20 percent of their team’s total games. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence.

Ellrich, a senior chemical engineering major, was recently elected to the Academic All-District 7 First Team for the second year in a row. He is batting .286 this season with two home runs and seven RBIs. He is the only Jayhawk to collect a pinch hit home run this season, blasting a solo shot at Baylor on April 5. This marks the second consecutive year Ellrich has been named academic all-conference.

Faunce, a junior chemistry major, was also named academic all-conference for the second year in a row. The junior outfielder is batting .315 this season with three homers and 12 RBIs. He is also ranked sixth on the team in runs scored with 29. Faunce hit a game-winning home run earlier this year against <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>MissouriState – his first college round-tripper.

Smyth, a junior business marketing major, has earned his second straight academic all-conference selection. The junior relief pitcher has been a huge asset for the Jayhawks this season. He leads the team in wins (five) and saves (10) and has made 32 appearances – all out of the bullpen. Smyth’s 10 saves are also tied for the conference lead with KansasState’s Daniel Edwards.

Southers, a senior economics major, is honored on the academic all-conference team for the first time in his career. The senior catcher is batting .270 this season with two triples, a homer and eight RBIs. His only home run of the season was a memorable one, a solo shot at Texas in KU’s first conference game. Southers also had a four-hit game at Hawaii-Hilo on Feb. 24.

Morrison, a senior sports science major, garners second team academic all-conference honors for the second-straight year. He is currently hitting .295 with 16 doubles, six homers and 38 RBIs this season. The senior leads the team with 12 stolen bases and has started every game at shortstop this year. Morrison enjoyed a three-hit game in KU’s come-from-behind victory against Oklahoma on May 2.

The Jayhawks (30-24, 9-15 in Big 12) will take on in-state rival KansasState this weekend with a trip to the Big 12 Championship on the line. The Jayhawks lead K-State by one game heading into the final three-game series of the regular season. KU and K-State will open the series Friday evening at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence at 6 p.m.

Nick Faunce

Paul Smyth

Joe Southers

Erik Morrison