Murray named A-Sun Pitcher of the Week

For the first time this season and fifth time in his career, FGCU ace Mike Murray has been named the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week.

“Mike was great for us on Friday,” head coach Dave Tollett said. “He has pitched great twice this season with the exception of one tough inning in the opener. He is only getting better with each start and we are lucky to have him. He works hard for, and deserves every award he gets.”

Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla./Forrest Hill HS) took the mound for the Green and Blue in game one on Friday opposite Fordham and dominated in typical Murray fashion. The junior cruised through 7.2 innings of work, striking out eleven while allowing just five hits to pick up his first win of the season. Through 12.2 innings on the hill in 2015, Murray has collected 20 strikeouts and with the win on Friday afternoon he now has 19 in his career which ranks 13th in the NCAA among active pitchers and fourth in FGCU program history.

The West Palm Beach native pitched exceptionally well out of the gate in his first outing of the season, allowing just one hit and striking out seven over the first four frames opposite Central Michigan. The junior struggled in the fifth, however, giving up three hits, including a one-out, two-run triple which would ultimately hand Murray his first loss of the season and third of his career. He would close the night with nine strikeouts after pitching into the sixth.

Murray was named a Preseason All-American by three separate publications. Perfect Game and the NCBWA selected Murray to the third team while Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper chose the right-hander to the second team. He was also tabbed the Preseason A-Sun Pitcher of the Year and named to the 50-man Preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list.

NEXT UP
The first road trip of the season will be a brief one as the Eagles will head north for a Feb. 24 date with USF (4-2-1) in the first of two midweek tilts with the Bulls this season. The second will take place at Swanson Stadium Mar. 24. FGCU split the two-game series with USF last season and are 7-3 all-time against the Bulls. USF posted a 27-31 record in 2014 and a 10-14 mark in the American Athletic Conference.

The Eagles will return from Tampa and the next day will take on Siena (1-4) for the first time in program history. The Saints are the defending MAAC Champions and advanced to the 2014 NCAA Tournament after collecting a 27-33 overall record and a 17-7 mark in conference play.