June 8, 2004

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The similarities between Tulane University baseball standouts Brian Bormaster and Cory Hahn are uncannily similar. Both transferred to Tulane from a Division I school - Bormaster from Rice and Hahn from Kentucky - and both achieved previously unforeseen success with the Green Wave as Bormaster became an every day player in three seasons at Tulane and Hahn has been a regular in the rotation since his arrival prior to the 2003 season.

Now, they will have a chance to continue playing on the same team following the conclusion of the 2004 Green Wave's season as the pair was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in day two of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Players' Draft on Tuesday.

Bormaster, who has starting experience as a corner infielder and catcher, was chosen in the 26th round (777th overall) and Hahn went four rounds later (897th overall). The Blue Jays chose to draft Bormaster as a catcher, and Hahn will continue his duties on the mound at the next level.

The duo join junior first baseman/outfielder Wes Swackhamer as members of the 2004 Tulane team to be selected by MLB teams as the native of Saunderstown, R.I., went in the fifth round (150th overall) yesterday to the St. Louis Cardinals. While Bormaster and Hahn will complete the eligility this season, Swackhamer has the option to return for his senior year if he chooses not to sign a professional contract.

Bormaster started all 60 games as a senior, including 30 starts at third base, 16 behind the plate and 13 at first base. He currently leads the team in walks (36) and sacrifice flies (6) while ranking sixth in RBI (33), tied for sixth in home runs (6) and eighth in batting average (.295).

The native of Bellaire, Texas, has 16 multiple-hit games, including four three-hit contests, and eight multiple-RBI contests, including three 4-RBI outings. He had a career-best 11-game hitting streak from April 6-24 when he hit .444 (20-for-45) with two doubles and seven RBI. He also has shown good recognition of the strike zone with 36 walks and just 28 strikeouts in 217 at-bats.

At the 2004 NCAA Oxford Regional last weekend, Bormaster earned All-Regional Team honors after starting all three games at third base and playing excellent defense there with 9 putouts and four assists, including an inning-ending double play in the sixth inning of Sunday's 12-3 championship game win over Washington. He hit just .091 (1-for-11) for the Regional, but made his lone hit count as his two-RBI single in the second inning to give the Green Wave a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish.

Senior right-hander Cory Hahn was taken in the MLB Draft for the second time in as many years, this time being selected by Toronto in the 30th round.

Hahn, meanwhile, was a second-team All-Conference USA honoree after appearing in 15 games, including 14 starts, as a senior. He is the team leader in wins (tied with 9) while ranking third in strikeouts (69) and innings pitched (88.2), and fourth in ERA (4.26) and opponent batting average (.297). He currently ranks tied for third in C-USA in wins and 12th in strikeouts. The native of Louisville, Ky., has a 4.66 K-to-BB ratio and a 7.00 strikeout-per-nine inning average with 69 punchouts and just 15 walks.

Hahn tallied five or more strikeouts six times, including seven Ks in his first start of the year and a career-best 13 punches in 8.0 IP vs. Charlotte. He was named LSWA Pitcher of the Week on March 22 after tossing a complete-game shutout at East Carolina when he scattered six hits and walked none while striking out seven.

At 2004 NCAA Oxford Regional, Hahn got the start in Sunday's championship game vs. Washington, and after giving up a three-run homer in the first, settled down to give the Green Wave a gutsy seven innings of work to earn the win. Despite not have his best stuff - four walks and two hit batsmen - Hahn got the big outs when he needed them to send Tulane to the Super Regional.

His selection by the Blue Jays marks the second time in as many years that Hahn has been drafted after going in the 24th round to the Oakland Athletics following the 2003 season.

Swackhamer, Bormaster, Hahn and the rest of 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.