SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford right fielder Heath Quinn was named the Southern Conference's Freshman of the Year by both the league's coaches and the SoCon Sports Media Association, when the league's postseason awards were released on Monday.
 
For the season, Quinn hit .316, ranking third overall on the team, and second among every-day starters. He led the team in doubles with 17, and he ranked second in hits with 68. Quinn tied for second on the squad in home runs with nine and RBI with 45.
 
In the coaches' voting, Bulldog closer Andres Gracia was named first team All-Conference. Quinn and catcher Drew McWhorter were named to the second team by the coaches. The coaches also released an All-Freshman team, with Quinn, center fielder T.J. Dixon and pitcher Jared Brasher making that team.
 
On the media side, Gracia and shortstop Tyler Filliben were named to the first team. McWhorter and Quinn were both named second team by the media as well.
 
For the season, Gracia ranks second in the Southern Conference in saves with 13. He posted an impressive 0.29 ERA in 30.2 innings of work this season. He finished with a 2-0 record, and he struck out 32 batters, while allowing just nine walks.
 
Filliben finished the 2014 season with eight doubles, a team-high five triples, and eight home runs. He drove in 42 runs and had a .518 slugging percentage.
 
McWhorter led the team in hitting with a .336 average. He had 13 doubles, nine home runs and 45 RBI during the 2014 season. McWhorter also led the team in total bases with 116.
 
Dixon led the Southern Conference in walks this season with 40. He hit .271 with nine doubles, two triples and 19 RBI as the team's every-day center fielder. Brasher was in the team's weekend rotation for most of the season. He started nine games and recorded 42 strikeouts.
 
The SoCon coaches also named Forrest Brandt of Davidson, and Casey Jones of Elon as its Co-Players of the Year. Georgia Southern's Josh Wirsu was named Pitcher of the Year, while Dick Cooke of Davidson was tabbed as the league's Coach of the Year.
 
The media named Jones as its Player of the Year, and Wirsu as its Pitcher of the Year. Cooke was also named Coach of the Year by the media.
 
Samford finished the regular season with a record of 32-24 overall and 15-12 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs are the No. 3 seed for the upcoming SoCon Tournament. Samford will open play in the tournament by taking on the No. 6 seed, Wofford Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET.
 
2014 SoCon Baseball Coaches All-Southern Conference Team
 
Co-Player of the Year – Forrest Brandt, Sr., OF, Davidson
Co-Player of the Year – Casey Jones, Jr., OF, Elon
Pitcher of the Year – Josh Wirsu, Jr., RHP, Georgia Southern
Freshman of the Year – Heath Quinn, OF, Samford
Coach of the Year – Dick Cooke, Davidson
 
First Team
SP              Josh Wirsu, Georgia Southern
SP              Jordan Smith, Western Carolina
RP              Andres Gracia, Samford
C                Adam Martin, Western Carolina
1B              Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina
2B              Hunter King, UNCG
2B              Bradley Strong, Western Carolina
SS              Dillon Dobson, Appalachian State
SS              Hunter Burton, Furman
3B              Sean Guite, UNCG
OF              Forrest Brandt, Davidson
OF              Lee Miller, Davidson
OF              Casey Jones, Elon
DH             Ryan Lowe, Davidson
 
Second Team
SP              Danny Mooney, Davidson
SP              Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
RP              Jason Richman, Georgia Southern
C                Drew McWhorter, Samford
1B              Greg Harrison, Furman
2B              Michael Pierson, Appalachian State
SS              Jordan McDonald, UNCG
3B              Chris Ohmstede, Furman
OF              Drew DeKerlegand, The Citadel
OF              Nathan Becker, Davidson
OF              Eric Kalbfleisch, UNCG
OF              Heath Quinn, Samford
DH             Bo Thompson, The Citadel
 
All-Freshman Team
Matt Brill, Appalachian State
Dallas DeVrieze, Appalachian State
Tyler Stroup, Appalachian State
Garrett Chapman, Georgia Southern
Ryan Cleveland, Georgia Southern
Matt Harris, Elon
Nick Zammarelli, Elon
Carter Grote, Furman
Adam Swim, UNCG
Jared Brasher, Samford
T.J. Dixon, Samford
Heath Quinn, Samford
Bryan Sammons, Western Carolina
 
2014 SoCon Sports Media Association Baseball All-Conference Team
 
Player of the Year – Casey Jones, Jr., OF, Elon
Pitcher of the Year – Josh Wirsu, Jr., RHP, Georgia Southern
Freshman of the Year – Heath Quinn, OF, Samford
Coach of the Year – Dick Cooke, Davidson
 
First Team
SP     Josh Wirsu, Georgia Southern
SP     Jordan Smith, Western Carolina
RP     Andres Gracia, Samford
C       Adam Martin, Western Carolina
1B     Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina
2B     Michael Pierson, Appalachian State
SS     Tyler Filliben, Samford
3B     David Daniels, Davidson
OF     Drew DeKerlegand, The Citadel
OF     Forrest Brandt, Davidson
OF     Casey Jones, Elon
DH    Ryan Lowe, Davidson
 
Second Team
SP     Danny Mooney, Davidson
SP     Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
RP     Tyler Powell, Western Carolina
C       Drew McWhorter, Samford
1B     Greg Harrison, Furman
2B     Hunter King, UNCG
SS     Jordan McDonald, UNCG
3B     Chris Ohmstede, Furman
OF     Lee Miller, Davidson
OF     Stryker Brown, Georgia Southern
OF     Aaron Mizell, Georgia Southern
OF     Heath Quinn, Samford
DH    Bo Thompson, The Citadel