DeKALB - Freshman William Anderson (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East), the Mid-American Conference & Freshman Pitcher of the Year, earned another accolade this week as he was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team Wednesday morning by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Anderson is the NIU baseball program & 17th All-American and its first since former Seattle Mariners draft selection Jeff Zimmerman in 2011. The Columbus, Ind., native was one of only four players from the MAC to earn the distinction this season.

This is a huge honor for Will and the NIU baseball program. He worked his tail off all year and being named a Freshman All-American is a real testament to that hard work, said Head Coach Mike Kunigonis. We're all very happy for Will and we look forward to seeing what he can do next season for Huskieball.

In 15 starts, Anderson posted a 5-4 record with a 4.08 earned run average, 49 strikeouts and 34 walks in 86.0 innings of work. The freshman assumed the Huskies No. 1 starter role prior to NIU spring trip and never relinquished the spot, going 5-3 in 11 Friday starts with a 3.28 ERA.

The freshman hurler made his first collegiate start versus NCAA Super Regional Cinderella team Boston College on Feb. 20 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. Though he picked up a loss against the Eagles, Anderson only surrendered three runs and six hits in 6.0 innings of work.

After earning his first career victory at Belmont, hurling 6.0 innings, the Columbus, Ind., native tossed a gem at Southern Illinois on March 18 as he became the first NIU freshman to toss 9.0 scoreless innings in a game since 2005. He started MAC play with a bang at Ohio as he tossed another scoreless 8.0 innings, en route to building a 17.2 scoreless innings streak, his second of three scoreless outings on the season.

Anderson closed conference play with a 4-2 record and a 2.94 earned run average, allowing foes to a .245 batting average in 49.0 innings.

He is the 10th Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in program history and the ninth since 2000. Zimmerman, a consensus Freshman All-America selection in 2011, was NIU's last All-American after slugging 11 home runs and hitting .326.

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