June 9, 2008

AUBURN, Ala. - Freshmen Brian Fletcher and Hunter Morris were each named First Team Freshmen All-Americans today by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. It marks the second time in as many weeks that the duo was honored as Freshman All-Americans as Auburn was the only school in the country to have a pair of players on the NCBWA's First Team.

Fletcher, who was recently invited to attend the USA Baseball National Team Trials alongside Morris, hit .324 with 10 homers, 17 doubles, three triples and 42 RBI, playing primarily as Auburn's everyday left fielder. His .611 slugging percentage was second-best on the team while his batting average ranked third. On the year, he safely reached base in 44 out of 54 games played, scoring at least one run in 30 contests.

Morris, who was part of the first wave of invitees to the USA Baseball National Team Trials, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and a Second Team All-SEC after hitting a team-leading .351 in 54 games, collecting 15 doubles, two triples and 11 home runs, driving in 49 runs. The regular first baseman, he hit safely in 44 games, collecting at least one extra-base hit in 24 games as he finished the year with a .597 slugging percentage and a .433 on-base percentage, drawing 20 walks, all of which ranked in the top three on the team.

The pair has previously been named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americas by Collegiate Baseball, making it the first time in school history that a pair of freshmen teammates were recognized by multiple organizations.

Fletcher and Morris begin tryouts with USA Baseball on Wednesday, June 11.