June 3, 2009

TUCSON, Ariz. – Senior first baseman Jeff Mercer was tabbed as a Third Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper on Thursday, May 28. The selection is one of only two Horizon League players on the team and gives WSU their second All-American since the 2007 season. Mercer was one of only four players that attended a university in the state of Ohio to be named to the All-American squad.

Mercer had a solid senior season for the Raiders as he has compiled 74 RBI’s, 91 hits, 55 runs scored and 145 total bases after starting a school record 63 games. Mercer is one of only three players in WSU history to collect 90+ hits in a season, joining Chris Tuttle (97; 2001) and Ross Oeder (93; 2007) in that club. He tied Mark Frankenberg for the single season record with 74 RBI’s and his 26 doubles are tied for the most in a season with former teammate Justin Parker.

Mercer collected Horizon League Player of the Year honors this season and was a First Team All-League selection as well as being named to the Horizon League All-Tournament team. He becomes only the third WSU player to garner All-American Honors in Division I and is the eight player overall in program history to earn the accolade.

He ended the season ranking among the single season leaders in hits (91, 3^rd), RBI’s (74, T-1^st), Doubles (26, T-1^st), Putouts (406, 7^th), Fielding Percentage (.995, 8^th), Games Started (63, T-1^st) and Games Played (63, T-1^st). He is also only the second player in school history to post back-to-back seasons of 50+ RBI’s and his 127 RBI’s over the two year span are the most by any WSU player.

All-Time All-American Selections at Wright State (* - Division II Selections)

2009 – Jeff Mercer, 1B (3^rd)

2007 – Ross Oeder, SS (2^nd)

1993 – Brian Anderson, P (1^st)

1992 – Brian Anderson, P (3^rd)

1987 – Brian Bailey, OF (3^rd) *

1987 – Don Bosway, P (2^nd) *

1987 – Wayne LaPan, C (3^rd) *

1982 – Fred Blair, 3B (1^st) *

1976 – Dave Newnam, 1B (3^rd) *

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