Boston, MA- For just the second time in Falcons history, a Falcons baseball player has been named to the NAIA Baseball Preseason All-American Team. NAIA announced the team on Wednesday afternoon and Falcons senior Mitchell Lundholm (Plymouth, MA) was among those chosen for the prestigious honor. Lundholm finished his junior season in an impressive way, earning NAIA First-Team All-American honors for the first time in his career and putting him on the map in the NAIA Baseball community, and among the best in Fisher history. He is just one of two players who have earned First Team All-American honors, sharing it with current Falcons pitching coach Christopher O'Hare who earned the honor in 2013.
Lundholm helped lead the Falcons to a 42-16 record, falling just one game shy of making their first-ever appearance at the NAIA Opening Rounds. His play over the spring earned him Co-Player Of The Year and First-Team Honors for the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) as he led the conference in six different categories, on both sides of the ball, to include runs scored per game (1.16), hits per game (1.74), RBI's per game (1.44), RBI's (82), chances per game (7.65), and put outs per game (7.14). These numbers were also top in the NAIA, as he finished the season in the Top Five in the country in batting average (.454), hits per game, hits (99), RBI's per game, and RBI's.
The first baseman was consistent all season as he had two separate 10-game hitting streaks along the way, going hitless in just nine games out of 58 played. He had 32 multiple-hit games, including 13 games in which he had three or more hits, as well as two 5-hit games this season, which ties the Fisher record for hits in a game. He was also incredibly sound at first, making just four errors in 436 chances, good for a .991 fielding percentage. Lundholm is now the single-season leader in the Fisher record books in games started, at bats, hits, RBI's, total bases, and runs.
Lundholm picked up right where he left off this fall, leading his team to a 9-1 record to start the 2019-20 campaign. The senior is batting .488 (21 for 43), with 12 extra base hits, including four homeruns. He also has 15 RBI and five stolen bases to start his senior season.
For a full release from the NAIA and a complete list of the team, click here.