Ward selected as Freshman All-American by NCBWA

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Bryant University baseball redshirt-freshman Ryan Ward (Millbury, Mass.) has been selected as a first-team honoree to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-American Team, as announced Monday by the NCBWA.

Ward's .409 batting average ranks fourth in the nation as of June 10, while he leads the nation in hits per game (1.80) and stands third in total hits (101). In 56 games this season, Ward recorded eight home runs, 52 runs batted in, 22 doubles, five triples and nine stolen bases. His .636 slugging percentage led the Northeast Conference, and he ranks as the fifth-toughest player in the nation to strike out at once every 24.7 at bats with just 10 total Ks on the season.

The Massachusetts native was the first player in NEC history to earn conference Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season after helping the Bulldogs to a 21-7 mark in league play and a share of the regular-season crown. Ward has also been honored as Co-National Freshman of the Year and a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, a first-team All-ECAC selection and ECAC Rookie of the Year, along with earning NCBWA District I Player of the Year distinction.

Ward is the second player in Bryant history to be named an NCBWA Freshman All-American, joining Matt Albanese, who was a second-team honoree in 2014.