Clay Edmondson Named Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year, Three Bulldogs Earn All-Conference Accolades

FULL BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - UNC Asheville redshirt junior Clay Edmondson has been named Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year to highlight three Bulldogs earning All-Conference accolades, announced by the league today (Tuesday, May 20).

Edmondson earned First Team All-Conference honors to go along with his major award, while Rylen Stockton was named to the All-Conference Second Team and the All-Freshman Team. In addition, Owen Michelson was named to the All-Academic Team. UNC Asheville becomes the first team in the Big South Conference since Campbell in 2022 to boast both the Preseason Pitcher of the Year and the Pitcher of the Year in the same season.

Edmondson becomes the first Bulldog since Alan DeRatt in 2008 to be named Pitcher of the Year, finishing the season with a 5-1 record and a 2.20 ERA which led the conference and was 11^th in all of Division I along with being fifth all-time on Asheville's single-season list. Edmondson ranked second in the conference with a .224 opposing batting average through a conference-high 81.2 innings pitched with a league-best 87 strikeouts in 13 starts. His 87 strikeouts this season are third all-time on Asheville's single-season list. He was named Big South Conference Starting Pitcher of the Week twice this season. At UNC Asheville's ASHPY's awards at the end of the academic year, Edmondson was also named the Male Bulldog of the Year.

This is Edmondson's first career Pitcher of the Year honor and his first career All-Conference honor. The Greensboro, N.C. native graduated from UNC Asheville with a degree in health and wellness promotion.

Stockton appeared in 49 games with 47 starts, hitting for a team-high .343 batting average with 12 doubles, one triple and seven long balls driving in 33 runs and scoring 35. He also drew 19 walks and stole one base, finishing second in the conference in runners caught stealing with 19 behind the plate. Stockton was also a member of the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List recognizing the best catchers in college baseball. Stockton also shared the team lead in multi-hit games with 12 and posted a team-high 10-game hitting streak while finishing the season on an eight-game hitting streak. He was second on the team with nine multi-RBI games and led the team with an 18-game on-base streak while finishing the season with an eight-game on-base streak.

These are Stockton's first two career All-Conference honors. The Sarasota, Fla. native is a business major.

Michelson appeared in 40 games as a sophomore, making 34 starts. He hit .270 with six doubles and one triple, driving in 14 runs and scoring 11. He also drew 12 walks and stole two bases, collecting five assists in the outfield. Academically, he holds a 3.68 grade point average in chemistry.

This is Michelson's first career All-Conference honor. He is a native of Candler, N.C.

University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics

Clay Edmondson Named Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year, Three Bulldogs Earn All-Conference Accolades

Players Mentioned

Clay Edmondson

Owen Michelson

Rylen Stockton

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