Baseball Duo Named Freshman All-Americans

Despite an abrupt end to their freshman seasons, a pair of West Virginia baseball players received a national accolade Tuesday morning.

Starting pitcher Jake Carr and first baseman Matt McCormick were both named Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans.

Carr started four games for the Mountaineers, with a 2-1 record and a 1.52 ERA. In 23.2 innings he struck out 12 and only walked three. He allowed just two extra-base hits and four earned runs.

Carr, along with upperclassmen Jackson Wolf and Ryan Bergert, were off to a hot start as WVU’s weekend rotation. In 71 innings, the trio had allowed just 15 earned runs and had struck out 69 opponents. They had a combined record of 7-3.

McCormick saw time in all 16 of WVU’s games, batting .364 in 55 at-bats. He hit three home runs, four doubles with 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. His .600 slugging and 1.070 OPS both led the team.

After graduating so many starters after the 2019 season, WVU head coach Randy Mazey had said the team was going to need McCormick’s offense in 2020. It was also looking like McCormick was on track to put up big power numbers, even as a true freshman.

The Mountaineers finished the shortened season with an 11-5 record, ending just ahead of the start of conference play.