UNC starting pitcher Austin Love was chosen Saturday morning by the American Baseball Coaches Association as one of four players at his position on the Atlantic All-Region First Team.

The redshirt sophomore from Salisbury, North Carolina put together one of the best seasons by a UNC pitcher in recent memory this year, leading the ACC in innings pitched (102.0) and finishing second in strikeouts (129).

Opposing hitters put together just a .224 batting average against Love, a number which ranked eighth in the conference.

Love became just the eighth Tar Heel pitcher to receive First Team All-ACC honors since 1999, joining a list that includes: Daniel Bard, Robert Woodard, Andrew Miller, Alex White, Matt Harvey, Kent Emanuel and J.B. Bukauskas.

His 129 strikeouts were the second-most in a single season in UNC history, trailing only Miller’s 133 strikeouts back in 2006.

On four occasions in 2021, Love threw more than six innings and struck out at least 10 batters. His final two starts of the regular season were both complete games against Louisville and Georgia Tech — with the game against the Yellow Jackets producing a career-high 15 strikeouts.

Atlantic All-Region First Team selections become eligible for ABCA/Rawlings All-American status. The other three First Team starting pitchers alongside Love in the region are Gavin Williams (East Carolina), Andrew Abbott (Virginia) and Trevor Dilaite (Liberty).

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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