KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan baseball placed seven student-athletes on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) team, which was announced Friday morning.
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The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. 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.
Jake Bartels, Western Michigan, P, Jr., 3.37, Finance
Finished 2-2 with a 6.04 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched … made 20 appearances with 11 strikeouts … finished the season allowing just one earned run in his final five appearances.
Gabe Berman, Western Michigan, P, Sr., 3.52, Management
Led the team with three saves in 2017, adding on to his WMU career leading total (24) … finished 2-1 with a 4.45 ERA in 32.1 innings pitched with 27 strikeouts … had a stretch of four straight appearances where he pitched 9.0 innings without allowing a run and pitching up six strikeouts, three saves and a win.
Jesse Forestell, Western Michigan, C, So., 3.73, Finance
One of two players on the team to start all 53 games for the Broncos … hit .276 with 31 runs, 11 doubles and 19 RBI … led the team with 10 sacrifices and tied for second with 11 doubles … had 12 multiple hit games, including a 3-for-5 game at Bowling Green that including five RBI.
Tyler Frank, Western Michigan, OF, Sr., 3.59, Communications
Played in 49 games with 44 starts … one of eight players to hit over .300 … finished the season hitting .319 with 25 runs, two doubles, one triple, two home runs and 21 RBI … was second on the team in stolen bases (five) and sacrifices (nine) … had a 15-game hit streak from April 16 to May 20 … had 10 multiple hit games, including a 3-for-4 game where he was a triple shy of the cycle with three RBI.
Grant Miller, Western Michigan, 3B, Sr., 3.74, Integrated Supply Management
One of two players on the team to start all 53 games in 2017 and one of eight players to hit at least .300 … finished the season hitting .300 with 39 runs, nine doubles, five home runs, 28 RBI … added on to his career-leading hit by pitch number, which now ends at 52 for his career … led the team with 31 walks while finishing fourth in on-base percentage (.422) … had 19 multiple hit games, including six straight in the early parts of the season.
Andrew Stone, Western Michigan, INF, R-So., 3.66, Sport Management
Played in 49 games and made 22 starts … hit .355 with 22 runs, five doubles and 13 RBI … was second on the team in batting average and on-base percentage (.439) … had nine multiple hit games, including a 3-for-4 game with a double an RBI and two runs vs. Michigan State at Comerica Park.
Jack Szott, Western Michigan, P, So., 3.88, Accountancy
Made five starts before his season was cut short due to injury … finished 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 25.2 innings pitched … in his last three starts combined, he pitched 18.2 innings allowing just two runs and three walks with 11 strikeouts.
