June 3, 2010

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina senior right-handed pitcher Blake Cooper has earned third-team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball as announced by the publication Thursday afternoon. Cooper leads the Southeastern Conference in victories with a 10-1 record including seven wins in conference play, tying him for the most conference wins as well. Cooper has pitched a SEC high 104.0 innings and is fourth in the league in opposing batting average (.227), sixth in earned run average (2.94) and seventh in strikeouts (88).

In SEC games, Cooper pitched a SEC-high 71.2 innings, was fifth in opposing batting average (.231), fifth in earned run average (3.01) and sixth in strikeouts (58).

Blake Cooper’s 10 wins on the year gives him 31 now for his career at Carolina and ties him for sixth on the South Carolina career victories list with David Marchbanks (2001-03), Matt Threehouse (1989-93) and Dennis Lubert (1979-82). His 31 career victories is tied for second highest among current players in Division I.

Cooper earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors in a 5-0 win over Ole Miss. Cooper struck out a career-high 10 batters in the victory, his fifth complete game of his career but his first career complete game shutout. He allowed just four hits and one walk as well.