June 10, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Junior left-hander Brian Matusz of the University of San Diego baseball team takes home another first-team All-American distinction, as Rivals.com released their All-American lists Tuesday morning.

Matusz is coming off a season in which he led the NCAA in strikeouts (141) and tied for fifth in the country in wins (12). He posted a 1.71 ERA, which is the fourth best all-time mark at USD in single-season ERA. The junior lefty was named the 2008 West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, named a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American and finished the season as the all-time career leader at San Diego in strikeouts (396). The junior southpaw also tied the program single-game record for strikeouts with 17 in a win against Harvard on March 22, 2008.

Matusz became USD's highest draft pick of the current draft format as he was taken No. 4 overall by the Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Angels in 2005, but he elected to attend school instead. He became the first San Diego player to be named as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award -- given to the best amateur baseball player -- and he helped the team achieve its highest ranking (No. 4) last season. Matusz was a member of the 2007 USA Baseball National Team and is also na finalist for the Roger Clemens award.