Official Release

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Brandon Martinez of the Kutztown University baseball team has opened his senior campaign by being named to the Preseason All-America team by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
 
This is Martinez's second straight year earning preseason All-America honors. Junior pitcher Matt Swarmer was mentioned as one of the "Players to Watch", and sophomore transfer Ben Eppley from Frederick Community College was tabbed as one of the "Newcomers to Watch".
 
Martinez was a consensus second team all-region centerfielder last season, leading the Golden Bears to their seventh Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship in program history. His career-best .392 batting average was the fifth-best output in the PSAC.
 
The First Team All-PSAC East choice was 35-for-36 on stolen base attempts last season, setting a new KU record for steals in a season. The two-time all-region and All-PSAC pick held a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) last season with a career-high 102 putouts.
 
Martinez also earned prestigious academic awards, including CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors. He is the first KU baseball player to earn the honor, as he also was named to the PSAC Top 10.
 
Swarmer was highly featured as the Golden Bears closer in 2014. Swarmer appeared in 23 games in his sophomore season and posted a team-leading 10 saves in 37 innings. He held a 2.19 ERA with a 3-2 record with 38 strikeouts. He held hitters to a .245 batting average while also starting in two games during the season.
 
For his career, Swarmer holds a 1.84 ERA in 58.2 innings with 61 strikeouts and 28 walks. He holds hitters to a .213 batting average while allowing just one home run in 243 batters faced.
 
Eppley hit .346 in his freshman year in 46 games. He hit seven doubles and one triple, while totaling 34 runs and drove in 21 with three stolen bases.
 
Kutztown opens its 2015 season at the Builder Invitational in Hampton, Va.on Feb. 26.
 
  
NCAA DII Atlantic Region Preseason All-Americans
RHP - Mike Bittel, Seton Hill
RHP - Jesse Cooper, Seton Hill
RHP - Brandon Holup, East Stroudsburg
RHP/OF - Anthony Brunetti, Charleston
2B - Tyler Burden Chowan
2B - Jimmy Spanos, Shippensburg
3B - Brendan Cox, Mercyhurst
3B - Eric Frain, Bloomsburg
OF - Cody Herald, Seton Hill
OF - Brandon Martinez, Kutztown
DH - Dan Popio, Mercyhurst
 
Players to Watch
RHP - Aaron Cox, Gannon
RHP - Mark Curtis, Shippensburg
RHP - Matt Festa, East Stroudsburg
RHP - Tristan Fields, Charleston
RHP - Tyler Hill, Bloomsburg
RHP - Matt Swarmer, Kutztown
2B - Jacob Carney, Shepherd
3B - Nick Sell, Seton Hill
SS - DJ Busby, West Liberty
SS - Tanner Woods, Chowan
OF - Weston Baylor, Mansfield
OF - Ryan Siegel, Mercyhurst
OF - Adam Urbania, Slippery Rock
OF - Matthew Wilson, Shepherd
OF - Spencer Wolfe, Shepherd
UTIL - Austin Mock, IUP
 
Newcomers to Watch
RHP - Tommy Alexander, Mansfield
RHP - Gabe Mosser, Shippensburg
P/OF - Shane Woelfel, Bloomsburg
SS - Connor Crookham, East Stroudsburg
INF - Austin Alonge, Mercyhurst
INF/C - Vincent Haddox, West Liberty
C - Aaron Flanagan, Chowan
C - Tyler Walters, Slippery Rock
OF - Ben Eppley, Kutztown
OF - JJ Sarty, Shepherd