RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky pitcher and Lexington, Kentucky native Aaron Ochsenbein was selected to the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division I All-America team, the publication announced today.
Ochsenbein was a second team selection as a relief pitcher. He was one of four Ohio Valley Conference players to earn a spot on one of the three teams, but the only conference pitcher. His selection marks the third straight year EKU has produced an All-America selection (Ben Fisher 2017, Alex Holderbach 2018).
Ochsenbein was selected first team All-OVC this season. He had a 5-2 record with a program-best 0.83 ERA and 10 saves. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Ochsenbein struck out 90 batters in 54 and one-third innings, allowing just five runs on only 24 hits, and 16 walks. Opponents had a .133 batting average against him.
The Dunbar High School product is one of only 11 players in OVC history with a sub-1.00 ERA with at least 50 innings pitched in a season. He ranked second in the OVC in appearances, sixth in strikeouts and second in saves. He ranked 40th in the nation in appearances, 41st in saves and 112th in strikeouts. In four appearances against teams from the ACC and SEC he allowed three hits and struck out nine in six scoreless innings. Those teams had a .143 batting average against the righty.
On April 8, Ochsenbein was chosen as the OVC Pitcher of the Week after earning a win and a save while pitching six and one-third innings without allowing a run or a hit and striking out 11 batters. He was chosen as the OVC Pitcher of the Week on May 20 after going 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA, one save, two hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in five innings pitched in two appearances against Belmont.
Ochsenbein pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three against No. 8 Louisville (Feb. 19). He struck out all four batters he faced in one and one-third innings against Maryland Eastern Shore (Feb. 23). He struck out six in two innings against Tennessee-Martin (March 24). He had six strikeouts and earned the win against Austin Peay (April 6) after pitching four and one-third innings without allowing a hit. He had nine strikeouts in four and one-third innings at Southeast Missouri (May 10).
Fans can get a head start on the 2020 season by placing a non-refundable $40 deposit on season tickets that will be included in the overall price of the package. For questions or to place your deposit, call Alex Harrison at (859) 358-9272 or the EKUSports ticket office at 844-3-GOBIGE.
