BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – First year
Jacob Fickenscher and senior
Sam Westermeyer of the St. Olaf College baseball team were selected as All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) honorees in the 2022 MIAC Baseball Awards on Wednesday afternoon.
Fickenscher and Westermeyer were two of 12 pitchers in the conference to be named to the All-Conference Team and became the first pair of St. Olaf pitchers honored in the same season since Todd Mathison '09 and Paul Johnson '08 in 2008. Both were recognized for the first time in their respective careers.
Wednesday's announcement made Fickenscher the first Ole first year to earn All-MIAC honors since Joe Keiski and Sam Stuckmayer '19 in 2016. The first year led all MIAC rookies in strikeouts (29) and was second in ERA (1.65) in conference games this spring. Among all MIAC pitchers, Fickenscher ranked sixth in ERA (1.65), seventh in strikeouts per nine innings (9.55), ninth in strikeouts, and 13th in innings pitched in MIAC contests.
The Kansas City, Mo. native did not walk a better during conference play and finished the season with just two walks in 46.1 innings pitched. Fickenscher currently leads NCAA Division III in strikeout-to-walk ratio (26.0) and is second in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (0.39).
Westermeyer concluded his collegiate career by ranking second in the conference in strikeouts per nine innings (12.0), tied for fourth in wins (3), fifth in strikeouts (36), tied for eighth in complete games (2), tied for 14th in innings pitched (27.0), and 18th in ERA (3.33) in MIAC play.
The senior was 4-3 overall with a 3.75 ERA in seven starts this season, including throwing a 14-strikeout one-hitter at Saint Mary's on April 9 and holding MIAC regular-season and playoff champion Bethel to one run in a seven-inning complete game on May 3. Like Fickenscher, Westermeyer ranks in the top 25 nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio entering the NCAA Tournament, sitting 23rd (7.67).
Fifth-year senior
Matthew Muller was St. Olaf's representative on the MIAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Muller started at shortstop in all 33 of the Oles' games this spring and started 134 of the 135 games he played in over his career.
