Damian Ruiz was named Southland Conference Hitter of the Year, league officials announced Wednesday morning. Ruiz is one of three other Cardinals honored.
Joining Ruiz (first team) on the all-conference team are Matt Ryan (first team), Riely Hunsaker (first team) and Bridge City’s Peyton Havard (second team).
Ruiz, a transfer from Houston Christian, had a record-breaking season, leading the Cardinals with a .395 batting average, 1.139 on base + slugging percentage, 75 runs scored, 81 hits, 21 doubles, 49 walks, 127 total bases, .620 slugging percentage and .519 on base percentage.
He broke the single season program records for runs scored, hitting streak (32 games) and on base streak (49 games).
Ruiz leads the Southland Conference in batting average, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, doubles and walks.
He also ranks second in the nation in runs scored.
Ruiz earned Southland Conference Hitter of the Week honors on Feb. 25 after going 12 for 18 (.667) in five games with one home run, five doubles, one triple, five singles and seven RBIs.
Ryan, a transfer from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is batting .271 with 45 runs scored, 35 hits, seven doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBIs, .423 slugging percentage and .427 on base percentage.
He ranks fourth in the conference in on base percentage while he is third in hit by pitch (18).
Ryan was selected to the preseason All-Southland Conference team, earning second team honors.
Riely Hunsaker, a transfer from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, has proven to be one of the best pitchers in not only the conference but in the nation.
Hunsaker is ranked ninth in the nation in ERA (2.17).
He also sports a 4-2 record, 1.08 WHIP, a team-high 70.2 innings pitched, 67 strikeouts and an opposing batting average of .230.
Hunsaker has thrown four shutouts this season.
He leads the Southland Conference in ERA while he is ranked in the top 10 in opposing batting average, innings pitched, strikeouts and batters struck out looking.
Hunsaker earned Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors on May 5 after striking 10 batters in seven shutout innings in a 5-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana in Game 1.
Havard leads the staff with 76 strikeouts, five saves, opposing batting average (.214) and a 7-2 record in 20 appearances.
He ranks in the top 10 in the Southland Conference in ERA, opposing batting average, strikeouts, wins and saves.
Havard was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week on April 14 after striking out a season-high 11 batters in five innings of relief during a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Nicholls in Game 1.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SUPERLATIVES
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Armani Raygoza, UTRGV
HITTER OF THE YEAR: Damian Ruiz, Lamar
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Brennan Stuprich, Southeastern
RELIEF PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Brady St. Pierre, Southeastern
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Victor Loa, UTRGV
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Cermodrick Bland, SFA
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bobby Barbier, Southeastern
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