Morrison and Beckwith Join the Mallards in 2015

Madison, WI – March 5, 2015.  The Madison Mallards have announced the signing of two pitchers from Coastal Carolina University.  Mike Morrison and Andrew Beckwith will be in Madison for the first time this summer.

Morrison, a 6’0”, 190-pound junior from Gilbert, South Carolina will join the Mallards pitching staff this year.  Morrison is off to a great start this season with two saves in six appearances.  Morrison has a 0.87 ERA and 14 strikeouts in only 10.1 innings pitched.

Morrison had a terrific sophomore campaign in 2014, appearing in 17 games for the Chanticleers finishing 1-0 with a save in 25.2 innings pitched.  He tallied 29 strikeouts and held opponents to a .255 batting average.

Morrison is coming off of a strong 2014 summer season with the Florence Red Wolves as he was named Coastal Plain Summer League Pitcher of the Year.  He was recognized by Baseball America as the sixth-best pro prospect from the 2014 Coastal Plain League.  Morrison recorded a league-high 18 saves, which tied the CPL single-season record. During the regular season, he posted a 0.36 ERA allowing only 1 earned run and 11 hits in 24.2 innings pitched.

Morrison pitched a terrific post-season for the Red Wolves, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA with three saves and 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched.  Morrison was also named to the CPL All-Star Game.

In 2013, Morrison’s freshman year with Coastal Carolina, he provided depth for the bullpen appearing in 12 games and posting a 2.31 ERA in 11.2 innings pitched.

Beckwith, a 6’0″, 185-pound sophomore from Blythewood, South Carolina will also join the Mallards pitching staff in 2015.  Beckwith has seen a lot of action early on so far this season, appearing in seven games and tallying five strikeouts.

In his freshman year in 2014, Beckwith finished 3-2 with two saves in a team-best 29 appearances.  Beckwith posted a team-best 1.49 ERA while holding opponents to a .238 batting average.  The young right-hander struck out 28 and walked only seven in 54.1 innings pitched.

Prior to Coastal Carolina, Beckwith was a two-time first-team all-state winner at Blythewood High School.  In 2013, his senior year, Beckwith led his team to finish runner-up in the AAAA state championship game.  He was named Rawlings Atlantic regional honorable mention All-American, where he went 7-3 with 79.2 innings pitched.

In his junior year, Beckwith was named Region Four Player of the Year, going 9-1 with three saves and a 1.13 ERA.  Beckwith also set a school record with nine career saves.

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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com