MVP Riebsame Headlines List of Four Eagles on All-UAA Tourney Team
Emory University senior Patrick Riebsame was
named the Most Valuable Player of the University Athletic
Association (UAA) Tournament, while sophomore Mike
Bitanga, freshman Brandon Hannon, and
junior Kevin O’Connor each earned
all-tournament recognition.
Riebsame finished the conference championships with a
tournament-best two home runs, including the UAA Championship
clinching walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth against
Washington University. The catcher and outfielder hit .435
(10-for-23) with eight RBIs and seven runs scored. It was the
first all-UAA honor of Riebsame’s career.
Bitanga led all qualifying pitchers in the tournament with a 0.00
earned run average, as the sophomore did not allow a run in seven
innings pitched in relief, going 1-0 with a pair of
saves.
Hannon led all hitters at the UAAs with a .526 batting average
(10-for-19), driving in seven runs and scoring eight of his
own. The right fielder also walked six times, including a
tournament-record four during the Eagles’ game against
Rochester.
O’Connor batted .409 over Emory’s six games
(nine-for-22), driving in five runs, scoring six, and collecting
four doubles. This is the second conference honor for
O’Connor, as the second baseman was named to the all-UAA
first team lasts eason.
The four players (more than any other team in the tournament)
helped lead the Eagles to their 10th UAA Championship
earlier in the month.
Also released on Wednesday was the NCAA Division III statistical
rankings, and the Eagles are currently towards the top of a number
of team and individual categories. In games through last
Sunday, Emory is third in walks, sixth in double plays, seventh in
hit batters, eighth in both doubles and triples, and ninth in total
hits. Bitanga is currently fourth in saves, Hannon ranks
seventh in on base percentage and 10th in batting
average, Jared Welch and Andrew
Cohn are tied for ninth in sacrifice flies, and
Paul Schwendel is 20th in
strikeouts.
Emory will return to action on Friday, kicking off a three-game
weekend series against Piedmont College at 3:00 PM at Chappell
Park.
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