WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (May 2, 2019) – On the first day of the Sun Conference Baseball Championship tournament, The Sun Conference distributed postseason awards, prior to the start of the second-seeded St. Thomas University versus fifth-seeded Warner University game, at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Six St. Thomas University Bobcats players earned First-Team All-Conference honors, while two were named to the Second-Team All-Conference.  Ian Exposito earned Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year recognition and Joey Thompson was named as the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year.

Ian Exposito earned First-Team All-Conference recognition for the first time in his St. Thomas University career and was also named the Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year, following an incredible 2019 campaign. Exposito finished the regular season 10-2 with a 2.75 ERA and struck out 103 batters. The ten wins and 103 strikeouts, led the Sun Conference and the 2.75 ERA was good for fifth. Expositio ranks seventh in the NAIA in wins and 20^th in innings pitched (85.0).

Orlando Rodriguez was recognized with First-Team All-Sun Conference honors for the second consecutive season, as the Bobcats ace finished the regular season with an 8-1 record in eleven appearances, striking out 74 in 66.1 innings pitched. Rodriguez had the third lowest ERA in the Sun Conference (2.44) and tied for fifth in strikeouts.

Jason Graña is the third St. Thomas pitcher named to the First-Team, as the closer turned in a dominant campaign in his first as a Bobcat. Graña finished tied for the Sun Conference lead in saves (7) and while recording the highest K/9 (strikeouts-per-nine) in the Conference (10.36). Graña finished the regular season with the lowest ERA in Sun Conference play (1.48)

Sergio Lopez earned First-Team honors, after being named the St. Thomas Team MVP for the 2019 season. In his second season as a Bobcat, Lopez led the team with 13 home runs, 67 RBIs, tied for the team lead in triples (5), slugging (0.6.89). 2019 is Lopez's second consecutive season earning All-Conference honors (Second-Team, 2018).

Chris Garabedian has been named as a First-Team All-Conference member for the second consecutive season. Garabedian followed his impressive 2018 campaign, with a solid 2019 season, leading STU in hits (70), tied for second in doubles (11), tied for the lead in triples (5), second in RBIs (54), and third on the team in home runs (5).

Erick Delgado also earned his second consecutive First-Team All-Conference nomination, leading St. Thomas in batting average (0.380) once again. Delgado finished the regular season with 68 hits, 14 doubles, two home runs and 36 RBIs.

Jackie Urbaez was awarded Second-Team All-Conference, following a 2019 campaign where the senior second baseman, hit 0.268 with eleven doubles, six home runs, drove in 35 runs, while slugging 0.457
and having a 0.468 on-base percentage.

Alejandro Rivero, in his first season at St. Thomas, earned Second-Team All-Conference honors. Rivero finished the regular season, second on the club in home runs (12), hit eleven doubles, third in RBIs (52) and hitting 0.316.

Joey Thompson was named as the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. Thompson finished second on the Bobcats in batting average (0.367), recorded 47 hits, drove in 26 and hit his first career home run in the regular season against Florida National.

Following the award presentation, St. Thomas University takes on Warner University in the second game of the Sun Conference Tournament Championship from the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

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