June 11, 2008

CLEVELAND - Miami University senior baseball players Evan Armitage (Milford, Ohio/Milford) and Matt Erwood (Atlanta, Ga./Marist) were selected to the 19-man Academic All-MAC team, the Mid-American Conference announced today (June 11). Armitage is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection, while Erwood earns his first Academic All-MAC selection.

In his final season in a RedHawk uniform, Armitage set personal season bests in runs (40), RBIs (30), walks (32), and stolen bases (12). Armitage finished the season ranking first among league statistical leaders in MAC-only play in triples (.15 3B/G). In all games, he finished fourth in triples (.08 3B/G), eighth in stolen bases (.24 SB/G) and 10th in walks (0.63 W/G). Armitage's four triples this season moved him into a tie for fourth place on Miami's career triples chart with 11 three-baggers. On March 17, Armitage led the RedHawks to a 10-6 win over Lafayette, going 3-for-5 from the plate and driving in a career-high five RBIs. Majoring in mechanical engineering, Armitage graduated with a 3.70 GPA.

Erwood led the RedHawks with 78 2/3 innings pitched and 56 strikeouts en route to a 4.69 ERA. In nine of Erwood's 13 starts, the Atlanta native threw at least six innings, including a seven-inning, three-hit performance against Toledo that earned him Mid-American Conference East Division Pitcher of the Week honors (3/25). Against then No. 3 Vanderbilt, Erwood held the Commodores to one run in six innings of work, striking out five. Erwood became the first Miami pitcher in a year to strike out 10 or more batters in a game with 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings of work at Buffalo on April 18. For that performance, Erwood was named Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week (4/26). A zoology major with a 3.86 GPA, Erwood will return next season after recently receiving a fifth year of eligibility for injuries sustained during the 2006 season.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics and is voted upon by the league's faculty athletic representatives. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.

2008 Academic All-MAC Baseball Team
Kevin Haas, Akron
Tyler Pritchard, Ball State
Tyler Stovall, Central Michigan
Sean Hoorelbeke, Central Michigan
Steve Bradshaw, Eastern Michigan
Josh Ivan, Eastern Michigan
Matt Shoemaker, Eastern Michigan
Dan Puls, Eastern Michigan
Chris Carpenter, Kent State
Evan Armitage, Miami
Matt Erwood, Miami
Marc Krauss, Ohio
Jeff Cinadr, Toledo
Josh Colliver, Toledo
Pedro Dager, Western Michigan
Ethan Hollingsworth, Western Michigan
Chris Lewis, Western Michigan
Billy Morrison, Western Michigan
Joe Sheets, Western Michigan