JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Junior outfielder Bo Ausmus (Jefferson City, Tenn.) was honored by the South Atlantic Conference by being placed on the second team All-SAC team and being awarded a gold glove for his play in the outfield.

Ausmus is the first player since catcher Kyle Koeneman in 2012 to be named to an All-SAC team and the first player since pitcher Robby Thigpen in 2011 to win a gold glove. Thigpen was also named a second team All-SAC selection in 2011.

"It feels good to get honored at the end of the season," Ausmus said of his accolades. "I worked hard in the offseason. It's second team so there is always room for improvement so hopefully next year I can move up to the first team."

The preseason second team selection had a year full of statistical triumphs that put him among the best in the conference. Ausmus hit .360 overall on the season, but he saw that average jump to .394 thanks to 11 multi-hit games versus league opponents. The .394 clip was the fifth highest average in SAC games this season while his 41 hits against SAC opponents were third-best.

"I was really focused in conference games," Ausmus said of his numbers versus the SAC. "I was frustrated with myself because with runners in scoring position, I don't feel like I hit as well as I did last year."

In 28 SAC games, Ausmus tallied 16 extra-base hits and 71 total bases ranking him third in the conference with those numbers. His 63 hits were fifth among SAC players and 40^th among all Division II players.

The native of Mossy Creek was fourth in conference and 39^th nationally with 15 doubles, fifth in the league with three triples and tied for sixth with eight home runs that puts him 40^th nationally. His six round trippers in SAC games was the third-highest total in the league.

In his first season as an outfielder, Ausmus started 45 of 46 games in either left field or right field. The junior notched eight outfield assists.

"Early in the season, I wasn't very comfortable out there," Ausmus said of his play in the outfield. "I was on the corners this year which put me in positions to make throws and get a lot of assists. As the season progressed I felt really comfortable."

Ausmus is the 88^th member of the Carson-Newman baseball team to be honored as an All-Conference selection since its inception in 1990. Only the Catawba Indians (131) have more honorees than the Eagles.

All-SAC First Team

C – Jonathan Zalud, Anderson

1B – Steven Cooper, Anderson

2B – Brantley Rumford, Lenoir-Rhyne

SS – Craig Brooks, Catawba

3B – Ryan Cranmer, Newberry

OF – Ivan Vieitez, Lenoir-Rhyne

OF – Josh Coker, Lincoln Memorial

OF – Nate Galliford, Anderson

DH – T.J. Wharton, Catawba

SP – Craig Brooks, Tusculum

SP – Olen Little, Wingate

SP – Shaefer Shepard, Catawba

RP – Ryan McClintock, Catawba

All-SAC Second Team

C – Josh Clark, Wingate

1B – Kelvin Brito, Lincoln Memorial

2B – Vinny Ferrara, Tusculum

2B – Jean Rodriguez, Lincoln Memorial

SS – Evan Rogers, Mars Hill

3B – T.J. Giczkowski, Coker

OF – Bo Ausmus, Carson-Newman

OF – Eric Serra, Wingate

OF – Keaton Hawks, Catawba

DH – Taylor Foster, Tusculum

SP – Ben Currie, Wingate

SP – Wesley Camp, Newberry

SP – Jake Nidiffer, Newberry

RP – Josh Coker, Lincoln Memorial

All-SAC Honorable Mention

C – Kyle Floyd, Lincoln Memorial

1B – Paul Kronenfeld, Catawba

SS – Michael Godinez, Wingate

3B – John Topoleski, Tusculum

OF – Blake Houston, Catawba

OF – Ernie Kirkwood, Coker

OF – Alex Kirby, Newberry

DH – Eric Barbieri, Newberry

SP – Cole Cromer, Newberry

SP – Landon Beck, Anderson

SP – Caleb Edwards, Mars Hill

RP – Daniel Nations, Newberry

SAC Gold Glove Team

C – Jonathan Zalud, Anderson

1B – Dalton Eisenbath, Mars Hill

2B – Julio Zubillaga, Catawba

SS – Brett Cash, Anderson

3B – John Topoleski, Tusculum

OF – Tommy Scala, Mars Hill

OF – Alex Kirby, Newberry

OF – Bo Ausmus, Carson-Newman

P – Wesley Camp, Newberry

SAC Player of the Year: Josh Coker, Lincoln Memorial

SAC Pitcher of the Year: Craig Brooks, Catawba

SAC Freshman of the Year: Shaefer Shepard, Catawba

SAC Co-Coaches of the Year: Jim Gantt, Catawba/Jeff Gregory, Wingate

- CN -