DALLAS, Texas — WKU Baseball redshirt junior Dillon Nelson has been named to the 2019 InTouch Credit Union Conference USA Baseball All-Academic Team, the league office announced Wednesday. Nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average.
The designated hitter, who boasts a 3.71 GPA and just graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sport Management, becomes the seventh Hilltopper to earn the honor. The program has placed at least one student-athlete on the team in each of its five seasons in C-USA. It was Ben Morrison and Ryan Messex in 2015, Kaleb Duckworth and Steven Kraft in 2016, Duckworth again in 2017 and then Morrison also repeated in 2018.
Nelson is a two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. He also earned a spot on WKU's President's List in the Fall of 2018 after being named to WKU's Dean's List in his previous two semesters (Fall of 2017 and Spring of 2018).
The Omaha, Neb., native started 35 of the Hilltoppers' first 41 games before suffering a season-ending injury when he was hit by a pitch on April 27 at UTSA. At that time, he ranked second on WKU with 31 runs batted in and tied for fifth with a .264 batting average.
Nelson hit two homeruns this season, a three-run shot vs. Charlotte on March 29 and a solo dinger vs. Memphis on March 8. He tallied a career-high three hits on March 7 vs. the Tigers and a career-high four runs batted in on March 29 vs. the 49ers. The highlight of his season was perhaps a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning vs. UAB on March 16 to give the Hilltoppers a 6-5 win.
WKU currently stands with a 24-25-1 overall record, including a 15-11-1 mark in C-USA games to rank third in the league with one series to go in the regular season. The Hilltoppers host Old Dominion for a Thursday-to-Saturday set at Nick Denes Field, starting on from May 16. First pitch times against the Monarchs will be 5 p.m, 5 p.m and 1 p.m., respectively.
2019 InTouch Credit Union Conference USA All-Academic Team
Tommy Bell, Old Dominion, So., INF, Kettering, Ohio (3.81 in geography)
Dominick Cammarata, Charlotte, r-Sr., INF, Asheville, N.C. (3.71 in psychology/biology)
Matt Canterino, Rice, Jr., RHP, Southlake, Texas (3.96 in mechanical engineering)
Chris Clayton, Louisiana Tech, Sr., C, Falls Church, Va. (3.81 in political science)
Bradley Griggs, UTSA, Sr., LHP, Castroville, Texas (3.74 in business finance)
Tucker Linder, Marshall, r-Sr., OF, Tallmadge, Ohio (4.00 in leadership studies)
Dillon Nelson, WKU, r-Jr., DH, Omaha, Neb. (3.71 in sport management)
Steele Netterville, Louisiana Tech, So., OF, Shreveport, La. (3.85 in biology)
Jackson Parthasarathy, Rice, Sr., RHP, Austin, Texas (3.52 in mechanical engineering)
Joshua Shapiro, Marshall, Sr., LHP, Columbus, Ohio (3.79 in accounting)
Hunter Slater, Southern Miss, r-Sr., 1B, Mobile, Ala. (3.36 in biological sciences)
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