COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Coming off outstanding seasons last spring that cumulated with All-America accolades for each player, Texas A&M's Tyler Naquin and Ross Stripling were each selected as First Team Preseason All-Americans on Wednesday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
The pair earned All-America recognition from numerous media outlets following the conclusion of the 2011 campaign and represented Texas A&M which was one of only two schools to have multiple representatives on the NCBWA's preseason All-American first team, joining two-time defending National Champion South Carolina.
Naquin, the Aggies' junior right fielder, burst onto the national scene during his second season in Aggieland and in addition to being honored as an All-American was named Big 12 Player of the Year. The Spring, Texas, native led the nation and ranked fourth in A&M single-season history with 104 hits as he batted a Big 12-best .381 last spring.
Additionally, Naqiun doubled 23 times and collected seven triples to rank him in third place for a single season at A&M in both categories. The strong-armed outfielder notched seven outfield assists to rank among the national leaders while falling just one game short of the school record for consecutive games with a hit as he maintained an impressive 27-game hitting streak from March 30 to May 14. He also became the first Aggie since 2007 to accomplish one of baseball's rarest feats as he hit for the cycle on March 6 against Houston.
On a team that boasted three "ace" caliber pitchers, Stripling enjoyed the most success for the Aggies on the mound in 2011. The Southlake, Texas, product put together a 14-2 record with a 2.29 ERA to lead the nation in pitching victories and collect the third most wins ever on the mound by an Aggie, finishing just two off the school record of 16 set by James "Hoot" Gibson in 1976.
The right-hander was one of the nation's steadiest hurlers all season, ranking among the country's leaders in wins (14), strikeouts (113), innings pitched (125.2), opponent batting average (.202), complete games (4) and shutouts (1). In addition to his All-America recognition for his efforts on the diamond, Stripling also received praise for his success in the classroom as he earned a selection to the Capital One Academic All-America Third Team.
Among Stripling's most memorable performances of the 2011 season was a four-hit complete game shutout at No. 4 Texas on the final day of the regular season which clinched Texas A&M's share of the Big 12 regular season title.
Texas A&M baseball opens its 2012 season and christens the newly-renovated Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park on Feb. 17-19 when the Aggies host Illinois-Chicago in a three-game series.