TUCSON, Ariz. – Missouri State junior shortstop Jeremy Eierman and senior pitcher Jake Fromson were the lone Missouri Valley Conference representatives on Collegiate Baseball’s 2018 preseason All-America teams Monday. Eierman, who earned All-America honors in each of his first two seasons with the Bears, was chosen for first-team honors, while Fromson garnered second-team recognition from the same publication that named the right-handed reliever a third-team All-American last spring.
Eierman was a first-team All-America choice of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game USA after logging a breakthrough 2017 campaign for the Bears, both at the plate and in the middle of the MSU infield as one of the MVC’s top defenders. He became the third Bear in the last six seasons to be named the NCBWA’s District VI most outstanding player and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award honoring the nation’s top shortstop, as well as a semifinalist for the NCBWA’s Dick Howser Trophy.
The Warsaw, Mo., product shared the No. 5 spot nationally with 23 home runs after turning in an NCAA postseason to remember, helping the Bears to their third Division I Regional crown by hitting a pair of home runs in Missouri State’s opening-round victory over Oklahoma State, as well as a tie-breaking two-run shot in the deciding game against Arkansas. Eierman homered for a fourth time in NCAA play in the Bears’ opening game against TCU at the Fort Worth Super Regional as well and hit .333 overall in MSU’s six postseason games.
Fromson picked up third-team All-America recognition from Collegiate Baseball last season on the heels of a record-setting junior campaign out of the Missouri State bullpen. He led the MVC with a 2.25 earned run average to go along with an 8-3 mound mark and two saves in a school-record 37 total mound appearances. Fromson, the 38th All-American in MSU program history, became the first reliever to earn the Valley’s Pitcher of the Year award since WSU’s Marc Bluma in 1998 and the fifth Bear in the last 10 seasons to claim the honor.
A Lee’s Summit, Mo., native, Fromson was particularly dominant in MVC play, going 4-0 and allowing only two earned runs while striking out 32 and walking just three in 26.0 innings over 12 appearances. The right-hander allowed MVC lows for overall earned runs allowed (19) and opponent batting (.170), while ranking seventh overall in the league with 88 strikeouts in 76.0 innings. Fromson also ranked fourth nationally in WHIP (0.86) and seventh in hits allowed per nine innings (5.57).
Season tickets for the 2018 season are on sale now through the Missouri State Athletics box office and include packages for lower-level reserved chairback seats for $100 (general public), $50 for Missouri State faculty and staff and $20 for students. Eight-game mini-packages will also be offered for $32 per ticket. Additionally, MSU is offering free season-long admission for up to two children (ages 12 and under) with the purchase of two 2018 season tickets. The Bears will also offer a ‘6-Pack Special’ for the first time this spring. Purchase six or more season tickets and receive a 25-percent discount, making the ticket price just $75 per season ticket.
Bears’ single-game tickets, which will also go on-sale in February, remain priced at $5 for the general public, $2.50 for Missouri State faculty and staff, $2 for students and special rates are offered for groups of 20 or more. All children ages 12 and under not accompanied by a season-ticket holder will require a $2 ticket for admission. Students must show a valid and current BearPass Card along with a student ticket to gain entry to Hammons Field.
For additional season ticket information or to place your order in person, visit the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window at JQH Arena during normal box office hours, call (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849 (toll-free). Requests may also be placed online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899.
