Five Named to America East All-Conference Baseball Teams
ORONO, Maine-- Five University of Maine baseball players were honored with post-season recognition on Tuesday morning by the America East Conference. Michael Fransoso (Portsmouth, N.H.) and Shaun Coughlin (Northford, Conn.) were named to the America East First Team, while Stephen Perakslis (Abington, Mass.) and Tyler Patzalek earned a spot on the America East Second Team. Scott Heath (Westbrook, Maine) was named to the All-Rookie squad.
Fransoso was a unanimous selection to the America East First Team after earning a spot on the Second Team a year ago. Fransoso is the lone Black Bear to start all 52 games this season. He is hitting .324 with a team-high 55 runs scored and 25 RBI. He has 17 doubles, five home runs and four triples. Fransoso has stolen a team-high 19 bases on the season. He has a .517 slugging percentage on the season and a .415 on-base percentage.
Coughlin was named to the First Team after being a Second Team selection a year ago as a rookie. He is 4-4 on the season with a 3.64 ERA. He has a team-high three complete games to go along with a pair of saves. He has pitched a team-high 81.2 innings on the season and has struck out 49 batters. Opponents are hitting .270 against Coughlin on the season.
Perakslis earned a spot on the Second Team. He is 4-5 on the season with a 3.81 ERA. He has pitched 80.1 innings on the season and has fanned 43. He has not allowed a home run on the season. He has started a team-high 13 games on the season.
Patzalek was named to the America East Second Team. He has played in 44 games for the Black Bears mainly behind th plate. He is hitting .292 with 28 runs scored and 33 RBI. He has seven doubles on the season to go along with three home runs. He has struck out just 11 times in 154 at-bats on the season.
Heath was a unanimous selection to the America East All-Rookie Team. He has made 39 starts for the Black Bears on the season and is hitting .304 with 25 runs scored and 20 RBI. He has 11 doubles and two home runs to go along with a triple. Heath has a .444 slugging percentage on the season to go along with a .382 on-base percentage. A versatile player, he has seen time in the outfield, at first base and on the mound for the Black Bear in his rookie season.
Maine returns to action on Wednesday, May 23 when it faces Stony Brook in the America East Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM from Joe Nathan Field in Stony Brook, N.Y.
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