OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Coming off being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team as a utility player, Texas State's Austin Eaton was named a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
 
Eaton was one of 10 players chosen as a semifinalist and the only player from a Sun Belt program. He is the first Bobcat ever to be named a semifinalist for the award.
 
On the mound, the senior finished the regular season with a 4-3 record, 4.12 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 43.2 innings over 12 games including 10 starts. The right-hander has recorded two quality starts with the first coming opening weekend against Binghamton (6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 K) and the second being in the regular season finale against James Madison (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 5 K).
 
Eaton has appeared in 30 games at the plate and made 28 starts between being the designated hitter, first baseman and starting pitcher. He has hit four home runs with 13 RBI and scored 10 times. Three of his homers have come against Power 4 opponents with his biggest being a three-run shot to put the Bobcats up for good at then top-ranked Texas A&M. The Frisco, Texas native comes in with a .333 OBP having drawn 11 walks and been hit by a pitch three times.
 
The award is named for former Washington State University standout John Olerud, who achieved success both as a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. The award will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation on June 17.
 
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