University of Connecticut Athletics
Poulin & Feole ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans
6/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. - Left-handed pitchers Mason Feole and P.J. Poulin earned ABCA/Rawlings All-America status by landing on the NCAA Division I All-America Third Team as announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods on Saturday.
The duo are the 10th and 11th Huskies to earn ABCA All-American recognition under 15th year head coach Jim Penders and extends the streak to four-straight seasons that a UConn player has received recognition . It is the first time since 2015 (Carson Cross & Vinny Siena) that UConn has placed multiple players on the ABCA All-America teams. 26 players have garnered ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors at UConn.
The junior captain, Poulin, had a marvelous final season in Storrs by setting the UConn single-season record with 16 saves. The 16 saves is tied for third in the nation and will be the second-straight season that a UConn closer finishes in the top-10 nationally in saves (John Russell, T10, 14 saves).
The Marion, Mass. product was the most used pitcher on the Huskies pitching staff, appearing in 31 ballgames including a six-inning start in his final game of the year. His 31 appearances ranks second in single-season history. Poulin was selected in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He will start his professional career in Boise, Idaho with the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League.
Poulin recorded a 6-2 record and a 3.26 ERA, the best among UConn relief pitchers. The lefthander racked up 60 strikeouts in 49.2 innings and was a leader on and off the diamond. Poulin finished his career with 64 career appearances in Storrs, tied for 10th in UConn history.
The Wakefield, R.I. product, Feole, went 9-2 with a team-low 2.50 ERA in 2018. In 100.2 innings, the lefthander has racked up 120 strikeouts, becoming the fifth UConn pitcher to hit the century mark in a single-season since 2015.. Feole's strikeout mark is the most for a UConn pitcher since Colin McLaughlin on the 1979 College World Series team struck out 138 batters. The 120 strikeouts is 17th best in the country for the lefthander.
The sophomore achieved All-Conference first team honors for the second-consecutive season in 2018. Feole ranked in the top-5 in The American in ERA (3rd, 2.50), wins (1st, 9), innings pitched (2nd, 100.2), strikeouts (2nd, 120) and pick offs (1st, 4). Feole earned a pair of All-American nods from Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America after a stellar sophomore year. Feole will pitch with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer.
