O'Brien, Erickson Earn All-ACC Recognition

May 21, 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Co-captains of the No. 21 Miami Hurricanes were recognized for their outstanding seasons Monday, as catcher Peter O’Brien and starting pitcher Eric Erickson both garnered All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.

O’Brien, in his first and final season at Miami, headlined the All-ACC First Team at catcher. Despite missing the final stretch of the regular season with a hand injury, the senior slugger finished as the team leader in a number of key hitting categories. The Miami Gardens, Fla. native led the Hurricanes with a .354 batting average, 10 homeruns, 38 RBI’s, despite playing in only 36 of 53 games. He also posted team-highs in on-base percentage (.465), slugging percentage (.677) and total bases (86).

“It’s just such a tremendous honor,” O’Brien said. “The fact that I was able to go out there, have fun and help my team win makes it even better. Hopefully we have a strong showing in the conference tournament and can make a deep run into the postseason.”

Erickson, the only player on the roster who has pitched in the College World Series and a six-year veteran of the program, exits as one of the most decorated players in its illustrious history. The Sarasota, Fla. native led the team with eight wins in his final year in orange and green, earning the role as Friday night starter after recovering from his second Tommy John surgery.

The veteran southpaw led the Hurricanes with a 61:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio and finished the season with an impressive 2.96 ERA. After becoming the first freshman in program history to earn All-ACC First Team honors, Erickson lists his name among the conference’s best after a stellar final year in Coral Gables.

“What a tremendous honor, after everything I’ve been through,” Erickson said. “I was working on a lot of things coming back from surgery. I was able to keep my team in the game and put up a season where voters thought I was worthy. It’s just such a great honor.”

For the official release from the Atlantic Coast Conference offices, along with a complete list of First-Team and Second-Team honorees, click HERE.