Tyler Thornton Claims National Freshman of the Year
6/5/2019 9:45:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCON, Ariz. – The accolades continue to roll in for Tyler Thornton as he was named the Collegiate Baseball National Freshman of the Year after a stellar rookie season with Saint Mary's.
Thornton worked his way into the Friday night starter role for the Gaels and amassed a 10-2 record in 13 starts (76.1 innings pitched). His 2.71 earned run average was the lowest of any starter on the team. He finished the year ranked 11th in the country and first in the West Coast Conference in hits allowed per nine innings (5.54) and his 10 wins were tied for the 11th-most in the nation (first in the WCC). Along with teammate Carlos Lomeli (also 10 wins), he has collected the most wins by any Gael pitcher since 1991.
Thornton's 11.08 strikeouts per nine were ranked third in the WCC and his WHIP of 0.97 was also third in the conference (27th in the nation). The San Diego native was twice been named the WCC Pitcher of the Week and both times were in a span of three weeks. Furthermore, he went on a streak of three starts without allowing an earned run (22.1 innings in total), allowing just six hits during that time while striking out 26 batters. Most recently, he also earned a spot on the WCC Championship All-Tournament Team after leading SMC to victory against Gonzaga in the first game of the tournament: he tossed 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out nine batters.
Thornton will also be heading to Cary, North Carolina at the end of the month as he has been selected to compete for a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
This is the Gaels' second National Freshman of the Year Award in three years as Kevin Milam earned the honor in 2017.
For the full Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Release, click here.
Thornton worked his way into the Friday night starter role for the Gaels and amassed a 10-2 record in 13 starts (76.1 innings pitched). His 2.71 earned run average was the lowest of any starter on the team. He finished the year ranked 11th in the country and first in the West Coast Conference in hits allowed per nine innings (5.54) and his 10 wins were tied for the 11th-most in the nation (first in the WCC). Along with teammate Carlos Lomeli (also 10 wins), he has collected the most wins by any Gael pitcher since 1991.
Thornton's 11.08 strikeouts per nine were ranked third in the WCC and his WHIP of 0.97 was also third in the conference (27th in the nation). The San Diego native was twice been named the WCC Pitcher of the Week and both times were in a span of three weeks. Furthermore, he went on a streak of three starts without allowing an earned run (22.1 innings in total), allowing just six hits during that time while striking out 26 batters. Most recently, he also earned a spot on the WCC Championship All-Tournament Team after leading SMC to victory against Gonzaga in the first game of the tournament: he tossed 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out nine batters.
Thornton will also be heading to Cary, North Carolina at the end of the month as he has been selected to compete for a spot on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
This is the Gaels' second National Freshman of the Year Award in three years as Kevin Milam earned the honor in 2017.
For the full Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Release, click here.
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