Wake Forest Athletics
Wilken and Adler Named Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans
6/9/2021 10:35:00 AM | Baseball
The duo is recognized among the nation’s best freshmen.
TUCSON, Ariz. - Brock Wilken and Eric Adler were named Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-Americans on Wednesday morning.
Wilken started at third base in all 47 games for the Deacs during the 2021 campaign, tallying a .279 batting average with 51 hits, 11 doubles and 44 RBIs. Furthermore, he posted a slugging percentage of .617 and an on-base percentage of .365. He ended the regular season with the fourth-most HRs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while finishing 10th in RBIs and slugging percentage.
His 17 home runs are the most by a true freshman in the entire nation and tied a Wake Forest freshman mark, matching a 20-year-old record set by Jamie D'Antona on May 21 with a solo shot in Wake Forest's 12-5 victory over Pitt. Additionally, 11 of his HRs came in Demon Deacon victories.
The Valrico, Fla. native posted his best game of the 2021 season at Florida State on March 27. Wilken led the Deacs to an 8-7 victory to claim their first ACC series of the season, posting an impressive offensive performance with two home runs and six RBIs, both career highs. He became the first Wake Forest player to hit two homers in a game since Shane Muntz did so against Sacred Heart on March 1, 2020 and record six RBIs since Bobby Seymour also tallied six in Tallahassee on April 28, 2019.
On May 24, Wilken garnered Third Team All-ACC and All-Freshman Team honors.
Serving as the team's closer during the 2021 season, Adler notched six saves, tied for the fifth-most in the ACC, and a team-best ERA of 2.00 while striking out 24 batters in 18 innings out of the Wake Forest bullpen.
The Rockledge, Fla. native fanned a pair of batters in seven of his appearances, highlighted by a career-high five punch outs in Wake Forest's 11-1 victory over Belmont on May 9. Additionally, the right hander blanked the Deacs' opposition in nine contests, allowing zero hits or earned runs.
Adler picked up saves in four-consecutive appearances in Wake Forest victories over Elon, Florida State (twice) and Louisville.
On Feb. 19, Adler earned the first win of his career after tossing 1.1 innings in Wake Forest's 8-6 season-opening victory against Northeastern and was selected to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award Midseason Watch List on April 30 as one of the top 65 relief pitchers in the country.
The full All-American team can be found here.
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