June 7, 2004

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University baseball standout Wes Swackhamer was selected in the fifth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First Year Players' Draft by the Saint Louis Cardinals on Monday afternoon.

Swackhamer was picked as a left fielder by the Cardinals, going with the 150th overall selection, and he does have the option to return for his senior season if he chooses not to sign a professional contract. The junior from Saunderstown, R.I., was the Green Wave's only pick in day one of the draft, leaving the other Green Wave draft-eligible players to wait for the second and final day of selections to find out what their respective futures hold.

After transferring into the Tulane program from the University of Florida prior to the 2003 season, Swackhamer hit .297 (43-for-145) with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 39 RBI as a sophomore. As a junior, he has been even better and ranks third on the club with a .353 batting average (76-for-215).

A full-time outfielder as a sophomore, Swackhamer made the successful transition to first base in 2004 and started all 58 games he played in as a junior. In addition to ranking third on the Green Wave squad in batting average, he also ranks second in on-base percentage (.434), and fourth in home runs (8), doubles (15) and slugging percentage (.535).

Swackhamer has 23 multiple-hit games in 2004, including five three-hit outings, and seven multiple-RBI contests, including a season-best three vs. UAB back on April 16 in Birmingham, Ala. He opened the year with a nine-game hitting streak when he hit .407 (11-for-27) with four doubles and seven RBI, and had a stretch of 17 games when he reached base safely via hit or walk - including hits in 16 of the 17 outings.

Swackhamer and the Green Wave return to action on Saturday, June 12 when they travel to Fullerton, Calif., for the 2004 NCAA Fullerton Regional against Cal State Fullerton at 9 p.m. (CST) at Goodwin Field. Tulane and the Titans will play a best-of-three series, with the winner punching its ticket to the College World Series.

Game two of the Super Regional is slated for 8 p.m. and the game time for the third game (if needed) is yet to be determined. For ticket information, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE.