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Marcus Moore struck out a school record 96 batters during the 2007 season
  
 
Three Wolverines Named to All-Independent First Team

Marcus Moore, Eli Slesk and Derrick Thomas Honored for 2007 Season

May 28, 2007

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OREM, Utah - Three Utah Valley baseball players were named to the 2007 NCAA Division-I All-Independent First Team by a vote of sports information directors and coaches at independent schools. Seniors Eli Slesk and Derrick Thomas and junior Marcus Moore all earned first team honors while two freshmen, Jace Brinkerhoff and Austin Heaps earned honorable mention.

Thomas had the best offensive year a Wolverine has had since the school's move to NCAA athletics with a .401 batting average, a school record-tying 15 home runs and 79 hits and a school record 66 runs batted in.

He capped his senior season over the weekend at the independent championship with three, three-run home runs. Two of the homers came in a game against North Dakota State that included a game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Slesk, a four-year senior for UV, finished with a .359 average, four home runs, three triples, 21 doubles and 41 runs batted in while starting all 55 games.

His season was highlighted by a bases loaded walk-off triple in the bottom of the ninth inning in a win over Dixie State. Slesk also tied the school record with a 17-game hitting streak towards the end of the season.

Marcus Moore became the staff ace after starting the season as the closer and finished the season with a 6-4 record and a 3.91 ERA. Moore also had three saves before becoming a starter, where he threw three complete games and had a 5-1 record in eight starts.

Moore set a school record with 96 strikeouts on the year while striking out double digit batters in four different starts including a school record 14 against Southern Utah. He also struck out 10 against Washington, 13 against Utah and 10 at #6 Arizona State.

Brinkerhoff finished with a .371 batting average and four home runs at the plate and also had a 3-6 record, a 5.77 ERA and two complete games on the mound. He also had two separate 12-game hitting streaks during the season.

Heaps had a .348 average with seven home runs and 54 runs batted in. His home run and RBI totals are freshman school records.

The Wolverines finished 25-30 during the 2007 season and a 3-1 finish, tied for 1st, at the D-I Independent Championships in Orem over the weekend. The 25 wins is the highest number of wins the team has had in four D-I seasons.