May 30, 2008

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University outfielder Mike McKenna, the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, was named a Collegiate Baseball `Louisville Slugger' All-American. The senior from Staten Island, New York, is one of the most accomplished players in FAU history, having established program records in RBI (185) and total bases (436) during an outstanding four-year playing career in Boca Raton. McKenna's 75 RBI this season equaled a school record and his 97 hits is the 3rd-best single-season total for any player to wear an FAU uniform.

2008 Collegiate Baseball `Louisville Slugger' All-America Teams

No player in FAU history has driven in more runs (185) or totaled more bases (436) than McKenna... He ranks second in school history in hits (270)... 4th in home runs (41)...T5th in doubles (43)... 6th in batting average (.361) and slugging % (.583)... 8th in runs scored (157)...10th in walks (91).

McKENNA's 2008 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: 2008 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year... First Team All-Sun Belt Conference outfielder... Collegiate Baseball `Louisville Slugger' All-America Third Team selection... One of 50 semifinalists for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award... Brooks Wallace `Watch List' finalist- an award presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player... Entered the year as top returning hitter in the Sun Belt Conference (.413 BA in 2007) and was a consensus preseason All-American...Began the 2008 season by hitting .462 in first nine games... Finished the season ranked 9th among all Division I players in hits (97), 17th in RBI (75), 23rd in RBI per game (1.25) and total bases (162)...Named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week twice, first on March 3rd going 11-of-23 (.478 BA) with three home runs and nine RBI to lead FAU to a 5-0 week...Named the national player of the week by virtually every collegiate baseball publication and Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week (3/24) after going 12-for-22 (.545 BA) with seven home runs and 19 RBI in a six-game span in late March...Led all Division I players in home runs for majority of February and March... Had a team-leading 33 multi-hit games in 60 starts as FAU's right fielder (one of just two Owls to start in all 60 games)... Homered in three consecutive at-bats vs. Middle Tennessee St. (3/21), tying FAU single-game school records in both home runs (3) and total bases (14)... Hit .405 and drove in 40 runs against Sun Belt Conference pitching...Equaled FAU's single-season RBI record (75)... 3rd-best hit total (97) in FAU single-season history... Also 3rd in total bases (162)... T8th in HR (16) in single-season... Finished the season strong, going on a 16-game hit streak in May, hitting safely in 16 of FAU's 18 games during the month...Led all SBC players with seven home runs at the league's home run derby held the night before SBC Championship tournament play began May 21.