TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State pitchers Connor Fenlong and Lane Miller were both named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Midwest Region First Team as announced by the organization on Tuesday.
 
The Sycamore pitching duo both earned the honors for the first time in their respective collegiate careers and marked the third consecutive season an Indiana State pitcher has made the squad joining Geremy Guerrero (2021 First Team) and Matt Jachec (2022 Second Team).
 
Fenlong adds to his growing collection of accolades in 2023. The Missouri Valley Pitcher of the Year has already been named to a Collegiate Baseball News Second Team All-American, while adding a NCBWA Pitcher of the Month Award over the last few weeks.
 
The Gouverneur, N.Y. native wrapped up one of the most dominant seasons in Indiana State history this past weekend finishing the year with a 11-3 overall record with a 3.45 ERA over 114.2 innings. Fenlong leads the NCAA with four complete game shutouts in 2023 and the redshirt senior went a span of 30.0 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run over the month of May.
 
In his first full season as a starting pitcher, Fenlong led the Missouri Valley in innings pitched (114.2) and wins (11), while sitting second in ERA (3.45), second in opponent batting average (.222), and sixth in strikeouts (76). He went at least six innings in 11 of his final 12 starts of the season including at least eight innings on five separate occasions.
 
He highlighted his year with complete game shutouts against Southern Illinois, Bradley, Murray State, and in the MVC Tournament against Belmont becoming the first pitcher in the MVC with at least four complete game shutouts since 1983.
 
Miller picks up another postseason nod of his own as the 2023 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year adds to his incredible story on the mound. The Boonville, Ind. native started off the year as a student coach handling batting practice responsibilities, while also assisting the coaching staff with charts and other scouting work in the office.
 
Given a chance to start against Purdue on March 28, Miller went 8.0 strong innings surrendering eight hits and two runs in Indiana State's 8-2 win over the Boilermakers. Five days later, Miller went eight more innings in recording a win at UIC and the redshirt senior remained in the weekend rotation the rest of the way.
 
Indiana State went a perfect 11-0 in Miller's starts on the mound in 2023 including MVC series clinching wins over UIC, Evansville, and Murray State. He also drew the start in ISU's Terre Haute Regional-clinching win over Iowa as the Sycamores advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals round for the first time in program history.
 
Miller finished the year with a 7-0 record and 2.77 ERA on the mound over 61.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 19 earned runs while allowing opponents to hit just .213 from the plate.
 
He finished among the Valley leaders in ERA, opponent batting average, innings pitched, and overall wins in 2023.
 
The 2023 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-Region Teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America Committee.
 
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Tommy Raffo of Arkansas State University. The committee also includes Dean Ehehalt (Monmouth University), Brian Green (formerly at Washington State University), Dan Heefner (Dallas Baptist University), Jeff Mercer (Indiana University), Brian O'Connor (University of Virginia), Jim Penders (University of Connecticut), and Butch Thompson (Auburn University).
 
First Team All-Region selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I All-America teams will be announced the morning of Friday, June 16 prior to the start of the 2023 NCAA Div. I College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
 
The finalists for the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. I Gold Glove team will be announced via Twitter by Rawlings Sporting Goods (@RawlingsSports) on Tuesday, June 20. The Gold Glove winners in all divisions will be announced on Wednesday, June 21.
 
In all divisions, the ABCA/Rawlings National Pitchers and Position Players of the Year will be announced on Monday, June 26.
 
The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now includes nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first recognized in 2007.
 
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 40 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
 
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and an approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
 
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