May 30, 2003

FURMAN’S TOM MASTNY NAMED
THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman senior right hand pitcher Tom Mastny today became the first player in school baseball history to earn All-America honors when he was named by Collegiate Baseball Magazine to its All-America third team.

A 6-foot-5, 225-pound product of Zionsville, Ind., Mastny was named Southern Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year in 2003 after posting an 11-2 record and the nation’s second lowest earned run average (1.09). He went 9-0 against league competition and tossed eight complete games.

“Tom was simply outstanding this year, no doubt about it,” said Furman head coach Ron Smith. “He had quality starts every time out and was dominant in many games. He really came into his own this year and had a great season. We couldn’t be happier for him in getting this well deserved recognition.”

In 124 innings of work in 2003, Mastny surrendered only 78 hits and 22 walks while striking out 103. Opponents batted only .176 against him, and he reeled off a scoreless streak of 26 2/3 innings during one late season stretch. After two unearned runs proved costly in a 2-1 loss to Ohio on March 2, he went 9-0 and earned a save in a 7-5 victory over South Carolina to help lead Furman to a 32-24 record — the winningest season in program history, which dates back to 1891.

Included in the Paladins’ record setting campaign were a two-game season sweep of Clemson and a 14-1 victory over North Carolina State, which featured a three-hit, seven inning pitching performance by Mastny.