Clarksville, Ark.-Five University of the Ozarks baseball players received All-Conference honors from the American Southwest Conference, it was announced Wednesday, May 8.
Junior designated hitter Chase Edwards headlined the group with First Team All-Conference honors. Junior catcher Erick Aguirre, senior outfielder Zach Stanley, senior third baseman Breyden Varner and senior pitcher Tyler Vernon received Honorable Mention All-Conference.
Edwards, a native of Chandler, Ariz., ranked ninth in the ASC in batting (.382) and slugging percentage (.625), eighth in RBI (41) and third in home runs (9). He produced 55 hits, including eight doubles, and finished with 21 runs and 90 total bases. He owned a .451 on-base percentage. He had 26 multiple-hit games and hit safely in 27 games. He was a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI in game two against Howard Payne and drove in five runs against Westminster College in game three of the series. He had three hits and three runs in game one against Westminster. He hit a grand slam to lead the Eagles to a win over Hendrix College. He drove in two or more runs 15 times. He is a two-time All-Conference performer.
Aguirre, a native of Hot Springs, Ark., hit .256 with 30 hits and 14 RBI. He homered, tripled and recorded two doubles on the season. He also scored 22 times and drew 17 walks, second-most on the team. He ranked third in the ASC in runners thrown out (13). He had nine multiple-hit games during the season. He had three-hit games against Westminster and Howard Payne.
Stanley, a native of Fayetteville, Ark., hit .298 with 26 RBI and three home runs. Stanley tallied 37 hits, including six doubles and one triple, and finished with 54 total bases. He owned a .435 slugging percentage and a .969 fielding percentage. He had a team-high ten steals on the season. He totaled 11 multiple-hit games. He drove in four runs against Ouachita Baptist and hit a grand slam in game three against Spalding. He finished with five RBI and three runs in that game.
Varner, a native of Skiatook, Okla., ranked third in the ASC in home runs (9). He hit .288 with 36 RBI and totaled 42 hits. He recorded eight doubles and owned a .527 slugging percentage. He ended the season with 77 total bases and 34 runs. He had 12 multiple-hit games. He scored three runs in each of the Eagles' games against Westminster. In game one against Westminster, he hit a pair of three-run homers and finished 3-for-4 with seven RBI. He also hit two home runs in game three against East Texas Baptist to drive in five runs. In game two against Louisiana College, he homered twice and had four RBI. He is a two-time All-Conference performer.
Vernon, a native of Benton, Ark., owned a 3.50 ERA in 18.0 innings of work. The right-hander collected two saves and fanned ten. In 14 appearances, he posted just one loss. He notched a save with a hitless inning against Mary Hardin-Baylor.