Four Salem State Players Named to 2019 MASCAC All-Conference Baseball Team
SALEM, Mass. – Junior first baseman Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) headlines four Salem State players, who were selected to the 2019 All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Baseball Team, as voted on by the league's eight head coaches on Wednesday. Briana earned first team status while pitcher Andrew McLaughlin (Peabody, Mass.), second baseman Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.) and third baseman Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.) were named to the all-conference second team.
Briana enjoyed a remarkable inaugural season with the Vikings, becoming the first Salem State player to lead the nation with a .school record .528 batting average. His season average was the highest in Division III since Nick Johnson hit .545 for Ripon in 2003, and was the second highest season average in the MASCAC all-time, behind only John Malzone, who batted .537 for MCLA in 1989. The junior also set a new school mark with a .578 on base percentage (2nd in nation), while placing in the top five in the conference in hits (57), doubles (10), total bases (79) and slugging percentage (.731).
McLaughlin led Salem State's pitching staff with a 7-1 record, finishing second in the league in wins while posting the third best ERA (2.41) in the MASCAC. The senior racked up 50 strikeouts and pitched four complete games.
Griffin a first-year player batted .339 and his team-leading six home runs placed him third in the MASCAC. The junior tied for the team-lead with 25 RBI and was second on the team in hits (38), runs (27) and slugging percentage (.607). Marquez, a first time selection, compiled a .278 batting average and tied for second on the team with four home runs. He racked up 27 hits and scored 15 runs while driving in 20 runs.
For the complete 2019 All-MASCAC Baseball Team, please click here.