Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications
Grambling State’s Chris Marcellus and Ethan Bates were named to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Postseason Baseball All-Conference teams, announced by the conference on Tuesday evening.
GSU opens up SWAC Championship play today when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21 at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala.
Bates, a graduate student relief pitcher from Anderson, Ind., was named to the SWAC Second Team after a dominant season out of the bullpen for the Tigers.
Bates sports a perfect 5-0 record with 19 relief appearances. He has posted 36 strikeouts in 52.2 innings. Bates led the SWAC in saves, closing out four games for the G-Men, and walks allowed (17). He was also fifth in runs allowed (35). He was named the SWAC Pitcher of the Week once this season after posting a season-high seven strikeouts versus UAPB on May 3.
Marcellus also landed on the second team as a catcher. The Rowlett, Texas native was a consistent power hitter for the Tigers. He batted .271 with 32 RBI, eight double, six home runs and one triple. Marcellus put together 10 multi-RBI games and stole four bases in five attempts. Defensively, he threw out 10 runners stealing.
To view the full ALL-SWAC baseball postseason teams, please visit SWAC.org.
Grambling State opens the SWAC Tournament on Wednesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. CT as the No. 5 seed taking on the No. 4 seed Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala.
