Albanese named Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After putting together an outstanding rookie campaign, Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) has been named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, it was announced on Wednesday by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

The Northeast Conference and New England Rookie of the Year, Albanese becomes the second Bulldog in as many years (AJ Zarozny -2013) to earn freshman All-American honors and the third in program history. A mainstay in the outfield for the Black and Gold, Albanese hit .322 with 69 hits, 16 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 36 RBI, 53 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. He led the team in doubles, triples and runs scored. Albanese's 53 runs scored are the most by a freshman in program history and the second most in a single season in DI history.

Albanese played in all but one game this year for the Bulldogs, starting 55 of them. He posted a career-best 5-for-5 day against Hartford in the first week of April and drove in four runs on two separate occasions. Albanese's ninth-inning home run provided the difference in a 7-6 win over LIU Brooklyn on April 19 and he came around to score the game-tying run in Bryant's NCAA tournament opener against Houston.