Fresno State Athletics
Jordan Luplow Named MW Player of the Year
5/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 21, 2014
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
LAS VEGAS - The Mountain West announced Wednesday that Fresno State outfielder Jordan Luplow was named the MW Player of the Year and First-Team outfield selection, as voted upon by league coaches. Taylor Ward also garnered all-conference status as he was named the All-MW Second-Team catcher.
Luplow set a Mountain West Conference record for juniors with a .470 batting average in league games, bettering the next best average in the conference this season by 0.95 ( Brad Gerig - .375).
The Golden Spikes and Gregg Olson Award nominee also led the Mountain West with 54 hits, 14 doubles, 82 total bases, 22 walks, a .713 slugging percentage and .557 on base percentage, along with his .470 batting average in 30 conference games.
Luplow, a Clovis, Calif. native, led his team in all but one offensive statistical category in 54 regular season games while starting in right field every game. He owns a .375 batting average overall, also best in the conference - it ranks No. 23 in the NCAA.
Luplow is the first Player of the Year selection for Fresno State since Tom Mendonca was named the 2009 WAC Player of the Year.
Ward, a sophomore from Indio, Calif,, was named All-MW Second-Team in his first season as a primary starter. Ward split time as a catcher and designated hitter throughout the season, but made his impact from behind the plate, starting 20 of 30 MW games at catcher. His conference batting average was .345, which ranked No. 10 in the conference. He had a.479 slugging percentage and .410 on base percentage to go with 25 RBIs, four home runs and 57 total bases - all marks that placed in the top-12 in the league.
Ward was a two-time MW player of the week consecutive weeks running from Feb. 17 - March 2.
Luplow and Ward will be recognized prior to first pitch of Wednesday's 7 p.m. game between Fresno State and Nevada.
2014 All-Mountain West Baseball Team
First Team
C - Alex Real#, Jr. - New Mexico
1B - Austin Byler, Jr. - Nevada
2B - Tim Zier#, Sr. - San Diego State
3B - Tyler France, So. - San Diego State
SS - Sam Haggerty#, So. - New Mexico
OF - Jordan Luplow, Jr. - Fresno State
OF - Brad Gerig, Sr. - Nevada
OF - Chase Harris, Sr. - New Mexico
DH/Utility - Patrick Armstrong#, Sr. - UNLV
SP - Bubba Derby#, So. - San Diego State
SP - Erick Fedde, Jr. - UNLV
SP - John Richy, Jr. - UNLV
RP - Michael Cederoth#, Jr. - San Diego State
Second Team
C - Taylor Ward, So. - Fresno State
1B - Morgan Stotts, Jr. - UNLV
2B - Justin Jones, So. - UNLV
3B - T.J. White#, Jr. - UNLV
SS - Matt McCallister, Sr. - UNLV
OF - Tyler Jones, Fr. - Air Force
OF - Trenton Brooks, Fr. - Nevada
OF - Kewby Meyer, Jr. - Nevada
OF - Edgar Montes, Jr. - UNLV
DH/Utility - Brad Haynal, Jr. - San Diego State
SP - Cameron White, Sr. - Air Force
SP - Josh Walker, Sr. - New Mexico
SP - Kalei Contrades, Jr. - San José State
RP - Colby Blueberg, Jr. - Nevada
Player of the Year: Jordan Luplow, Jr., OF, Fresno State
Pitcher of the Year: Erick Fedde, Jr., RHP, UNLV
Freshman of the Year: Danny Collier, OF, New Mexico
Coach of the Year: Tim Chambers, UNLV
# - indicated 2013 All-MW selections
All selections were bases upon Mountain West games only.
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