May 24, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, PA – For the first time in program history, three La Salle baseball players have been named to the All-Atlantic 10 team, the conference announced today.
Pat Christensen has been named to the first team with Kevin Fuqua earning second team honors and Jeff Flax tabbed as an honorable mention.
Christensen led the Atlantic 10 with 13 saves and posted a miniscule 1.24 ERA in 27 appearances out of the bullpen. The sophomore closer also broke his own single season saves record set last season and sits just five saves behind the all-time La Salle leader. In 36.1 innings pitched this season, Christensen walked just five batters and struck out 38 with a .223 batting average against.
Fuqua has been the ace of La Salle’s pitching staff all season long and went 6-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 14 starts. His best start of the season was also the one that clinched a postseason berth for the Explorers as the right-hander threw a complete game shutout in the series-opener against Saint Louis on May 19. The senior is currently the all-time La Salle innings pitched leader with 324.1 and sits five strikeouts behind the top mark in program history. Fuqua is scheduled to take the ball on Wednesday afternoon when La Salle opens the 2011 A-10 tourney.
Flax led La Salle in batting average (.311), hits (64), and RBI (32) and started all 51 games at second base. The junior also matched a program record with a 24-game hitting streak that spanned for almost the entire month of March and into early April.
The three all-conference selections are the most in program history, and Christensen’s first team nod is the first Explorer to be given that top honor since 2008.
In addition, Christensen and Brendan Norton were named to the academic all-conference team for their outstanding performances in the classroom. Both Christensen and Norton are accounting majors with GPA’s over 3.5 for their academic careers. Norton’s all-academic distinction marks the second straight year he has been honored by the Atlantic 10.
Finally, freshman Dominic Sgroi has been named to the all-rookie team after an outstanding freshman season on the hill. The left-hander excelled in a hybrid-role that saw him make five starts on the mound and 16 appearances out of the bullpen. Sgroi went 2-2 with a 3.75 ERA and walked just 14 batters with 41 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched.
La Salle will open play in the 2011 Atlantic 10 Championship on Wednesday against Dayton at Campbell’s Field in Camden, NJ. Wednesday’s game against the Flyers is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. with live audio and stats available on GoExplorers.com.
Single day tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students, children and senior citizens. Four-day passes are available for $24 for adults and $12 for students, children and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Campbell’s Field box office.
