BALTIMORE – Coppin State’s Jordan Hamberg has been named the Black College Nines Freshman of the Year; it was announced by the website on Monday afternoon. Additionally, first baseman Conner Walker was placed on the organization’s Second Team.
A first-year utility player from South Plainfield, N.J., Hamberg was a key two-way player for the Eagles, starting as a corner outfielder as well as a weekend pitcher. Hamberg led all CSU eligible hitters with a .382 batting average while recording five doubles, a triple and seven RBI while accumulating a .474 slugging percentage and .460 on-base percentage. Hamberg recorded seven multi-hit games with a 4-for-4 performance at Norfolk State and a pair of three-hit games at Delaware State.
On the mound, Hamberg went 1-3 with a 6.58 ERA, striking out 28 batters in 26.0 innings. Hamberg picked up the win in a start at Delaware State on March 21 where he gave up just one earned run while striking out four in 4.2 innings.
Walker hit .333 for the season, leading the Eagles with 13 extra-base hits while recording a team-high in doubles (eight), home runs (five) and RBI (34). A redshirt senior from Bothell, Wash., Walker finished second on the Eagles with 26 runs scored and 22 walks. Walker was even better in MEAC play, hitting .392 while leading the team with four doubles, four home runs and 24 RBI in those games.
Recording a 1.014 OPS, Walker notched 11 multi-hit games and a team-high seven multi-RBI performances, driving in four runs three times and another three RBI in three games.
