PEMBROKE, N.C. – On Thursday, senior middle infielders Matt McDermott and Matt Clarke of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team were selected to the NCBWA Preseason All-America Team, as announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. McDermott was voted to the NCBWA Preseason All-America First Team as Clarke lands on All-America Third Team.

Senior Matt Clarke earns NCBWA Preseason All-Region First Team honors after a stellar first season in the black and gold. Clarke, who led the team in hits and doubles, ranked tied for the seventh most hits in the conference with 76 and was tied for the third most doubles in the conference with 20 last season. The junior transfer set a new program record for most doubles in a season, as he finished with the second highest batting average on the team of .378. Clarke produced 37 RBI and six home runs from the leadoff spot, as he reached base safely in 42 of the 49 games that he played in 2019. At second base, Clarke helped seal up the middle infield with McDermott by recording 114 assists and boasting a .966 fielding percentage.

Fellow senior Matt McDermott had a career year in 2019 as he set career highs in batting average (.384), hits (68), doubles (18), home runs (9), RBI (42), assists (184), and fielding percentage (.968).  His .384 average, 48 runs scored, and 184 assists led the team, as his batting average ranked 9^th in conference and his 18 doubles was tied for the sixth most in the RMAC. McDermott's offensive production matched his defensive production for the 2019 season as he led the conference with 184 assists and fielded his way to RMAC Gold Glove honors at shortstop. McDermott reached base safely in 40 games and had 16 multi-hit games in 2019.

The Mountain Lions open their season on the road next weekend as they travel to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona for a four-game series starting with game one on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. (MT).