Courtesy of UBBulls.com
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo baseball right fielder Vinny Mallaro and starting pitcher Alec Tuohy were honored by the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday night when the league announced its postseason awards. Mallaro and Tuohy were both named All-MAC First Team for their efforts on the diamond this past season.
Earning All-MAC honors for the first time in his career, Mallaro just finished off one of the best individual batting seasons in program history. The junior power hitter finished off his impressive season tying Tom Murphy for the single season home run record with 13 long balls. The right fielder closed out the season leading the team in batting average (.351), runs (42), RBI (52), doubles (15), total bases (122), slugging percentage (.649) and on base percentage (.438).
Mallaro’s 52 RBI are the second most in program history while his slugging percentage of .649 is the highest in program history since the reinstatement of the program in 2000. His 122 total bases ranks fifth in program history for a season.
Down the stretch of the regular season, Mallaro was one of the best players in the country as the slugger batted .467 with eight homers, 20 RBI and 13 runs scored over the final eight games of the regular season. He also reached base successfully in 31 straight games to end the season.
After making the move from the bullpen to the starting rotation, Tuohy turned in a great season on the hump for the Bulls as he went 7-4, the second most wins in a season in program history. The righty held a 2.98 ERA over a team-high 93.2 innings of work while striking out 69 batters, ninth most in a season in program history. He also held opposing batters to a .236 batting average against for the season.
In MAC play, Tuohy was just as good as he owned a 4-2 record with a 3.07 ERA over 55.2 innings of work. His best outing of the season came against Mount St. Mary’s when he went 7.0 innings of three-hit ball while not allowing a run and striking out a career-high eight batters. He finished the season with five games of at least seven strikeouts and seven of his 14 starts he allowed two earned runs or less.
Tuohy was the Friday starter for the Bulls pitching staff that had one of the best seasons in program history as they combined to strike out 375 batters, ranking second in program history for a single season, while allowing just 194 walks, the lowest number of walks in a season since the programs reinstatement in 2000.
This marks the first time since 2013, Mike Burke and Jason Kanzler, that the Bulls had two first team All-MAC performers. UB has now had at least one first team All-MAC performer on their team in seven straight seasons dating back to 2010.
2016 MAC Baseball Awards and All-MAC Teams
MAC Player of the Year
Alex Call, Ball State, Jr., OF
MAC Player of the Year
Eric Lauer, Kent State, Jr., LHP
MAC Freshman of the Year
Connor Smith, Western Michigan, Fr., SS
MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year
William Anderson, Northern Illinois, Fr., RHP
MAC Defensive Player of the Year
Deion Tansel, Sr., Toledo, SS
MAC Coach of the Year
Jeff Duncan, Kent State
All-MAC First Team
C- Jarrett Rindfleisch, Jr., Ball State
1B – Caleb Stayton, Jr., Ball State
2B – Brad Wood, So., Northern Illinois
3B – Mitch McGeein, Sr., Eastern Michigan
SS – Deion Tansel, Sr., Toledo
OF – Alex Call, Jr., Ball State
OF – Luke Burch, Jr., Kent State
OF – Vinny Mallaro, Jr., Buffalo
SP – Eric Lauer, Jr., Kent State
SP – Keegan Akin, Jr., Western Michigan
SP – Eli Kraus, So., Kent State
SP – Alec Tuohy, Jr., Buffalo
RP – B.J. Butler, Jr., Ball State
DH – Zarley Zalewski, Sr., Kent State
DH – Gary Russo, Sr., Miami
All-MAC Second Team
C- Cody Gaertner, Sr., Ohio
1B – Ross Haffey, So., Miami
2B – Steve Sada, Jr., Miami
3B – Dylan Rosa, So., Kent State
SS – Connor Smith, Fr., Western Michigan
OF – Mitch Longo, Jr., Ohio
OF – Daniel Jipping, So., Central Michigan
OF – Stephen Letz, Sr., Northern Illinois
SP – Ross Achter, Sr., Toledo
SP – Cole Gnetz, Fr., Miami
SP – Andy Ravel, Jr., Kent State
SP – William Anderson, Fr., Northern Illinois
RP – Zach Willeman, So., Kent State
DH – Brennan Williams, So., Eastern Michigan
At-Large – Conner Simonetti, Jr., Kent State
MAC All-Defensive Team
C: Cody Gaertner, Sr., Ohio
1B: Tommy Hook, Jr., Northern Illinois
2B: Riley Minorik, Fr., Bowling Green
SS: Deion Tansel, Sr., Toledo
3B: Sean Kennedy, Jr., Ball State
OF: Manny DeJesus, Sr., Ohio
OF: Mason Mamarella, So., Kent State
OF: Alex Call, Jr., Ball State
P: Keegan Akin, Jr., Western Michigan
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