Knight named first team All-American by writers

FAYETTEVILLE — Blaine Knight was named to the All-America first team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers, it was announced Wednesday.

Knight, a junior right-hander, is one of seven starting pitchers on the NCBWA first team. Other starters are Auburn’s Casey Mize, Florida’s Brady Singer, Oregon State’s Luke Heimlich, Southern Miss’ Nick Sandlin, Stetson’s Logan Gilbert and UC Irvine’s Andre Pallante.

Voters were asked to select eight starting pitchers during the voting process, which ended last week. Other Arkansas players on the NCBWA ballot were second baseman Carson Shaddy, third baseman Casey Martin and outfielder Heston Kjerstad. Martin and Kjerstad were voted to the NCBWA Freshman All-America team.

Knight is 12-0 this season with a 2.84 ERA in 16 starts. He is one win shy of tying the school record for wins in a single season and is expected to start the Razorbacks’ game against Texas on Sunday at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

The Bryant native previously was named second-team All-America by Baseball America and Perfect Game, and to the third team by Collegiate Baseball.

Arkansas has had 23 individuals named All-America 28 times. Prior to Knight, Andrew Benintendi, the 2015 winner of the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award as national player of the year, was the Razorbacks’ most recent All-American.