Eli Anderson
Northern Illinois pitcher Eli Anderson (Glenview, Ill./New Trier) was named to the Mid-American Conference’s All-Academic team Friday.
Anderson was a first-team All-MAC pitcher and averaged a 3.75 grade point average during the 2012-13 school year, including a 4.0 last fall. He holds a 3.20 GPA and is earning his degree in psychology.
Anderson is the fourth Academic All-MAC selection for the Northern Illinois baseball program in the last three seasons.
“This is a great honor for Northern Illinois University, the baseball program and for Eli,” said head coach Ed Mathey. “This is very well-deserved. Eli is a hard-working kid in the classroom and on the field. It’s good to see all that hard work is paying for him now.”
A starting pitcher, Anderson finished the season with a 9-4 record to tie the NIU record for wins in a single season.
The junior led the Mid-American Conference in earned average (2.18), innings pitched (115.1) and in complete games (6). Anderson also pitched a shutout, a 3-0 victory over 2012 College World Series qualifier Kent State, and earned a combined shutout with Kevin Sweeney at Toledo. He struck out 76 batters while walking 26 during the 2013 campaign.
At season’s end, Anderson was named a semifinalist for the Gregg Olson Award, given to the Breakout Player of the Year in Division I college baseball.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
For more information on NIU baseball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
