Bradley University Athletics

Dougherty Named MVC Freshman of the Year

Rookie third baseman is Bradley's first position player to be named The Valley's top freshman

Brendan Dougherty at the plate vs Milwaukee

Bradley University Marketing

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Baseball 5/23/2017 12:30:00 PM

SPRINGFIELD, MO – Bradley's top hitter this season and the top hitting freshman in the Missouri Valley Conference, third baseman Brendan Dougherty (Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic H.S.) has been recognized for his efforts by being named The Valley's Freshman of the Year, according to a vote of the league's eight head coaches announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

The third Bradley player to be named MVC Baseball Freshman of the Year, Dougherty is the first position player to receive the honor, following the selections of pitchers Doug Robertson in 1994 and Brad Altbach in 2007. A starter in 43 of Bradley's 49 games this season, all at third base, Dougherty enters the MVC Baseball Championship leading the Braves with a .300 overall batting average, including a .311 average in his 20 conference games. Bradley shortstop Luke Shadid (.293) is the only other Valley freshman currently hitting better than .280 this season.

Among his season highlights, Dougherty enjoyed the team's longest streak of consecutive games reaching base safely this year, 20 games from April 7-May 12, and he was 3-for-4 with a double in each of the three games in the rivalry series versus Illinois State. He also leads the team with 22 bases on balls, while striking out just 23 times in his first season facing collegiate pitching.

Dougherty is joined by sophomore outfield teammates Jean-Francois Garon (Terrebonne, Quebec/College Laval) and Andy Shadid (Peoria, IL/Notre Dame H.S.) by receiving All-MVC honorable mention, according to Tuesday's release of the All-Missouri Valley Conference team.

Bradley's primary right fielder, Garon ranks second on the team with 10 home runs and a .523 slugging percentage and he is third on the team with 28 RBI's. Shadid has been Bradley's starting center fielder in 98 of the team's 99 games the past two seasons. Although he has hit just .229 in Bradley's 49 games this season, he is third on the team with 29 RBI's.

Bradley (20-29, 6-14 MVC) will be the No. 7 seed for the 2017 MVC Baseball Championship, which will be hosted by Missouri State Wednesday through Saturday at Hammons Field. The Braves, who have advanced to the tournament's final day each of the last two years, will open tourney play in Game 2 Wednesday with a 12:30 p.m. start against No. 2 seed and 29th-ranked Dallas Baptist (36-19, 15-6 MVC). Bradley and DBU are joined in the tourney's Bracket A by No. 3 seed Indiana State (27-24, 12-9 MVC) and No. 6 seed Evansville (17-37, 8-12 MVC). Every game in the double-elimination tournament will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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