RUSTON – Right-handed pitcher Thomas Allen has been named a Second Team Freshman All-American, per the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's (NCBWA) release Monday afternoon. Allen is the first Bulldog to be named a Freshman All-American since Ryan Harland in 2022.
 
Per the association's release, "A total of 34 standout freshmen college baseball players from every part of the country are featured on the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Freshman All-American Team. The Freshman All-American team is voted upon by the membership of the NCBWA."
 
The Benton native is just the eighth Bulldog in program history to be named a Freshman All-American. Prior to Harland's selection in 2022, the last time the 'Dogs had a Freshman All-American dates back to 2012 with Phil Maton selected after Ryan Gebhardt received the honors in 2011.
 
Allen swiftly rose as one of LA Tech's top bullpen arms in his first season of collegiate baseball. He made 19 appearances, 18 of which were in relief, posting a 3.54 ERA and a 5-3 record through 48.1 innings on the mound. He punched out 49 batters and opponents were held to just a .195 average at the plate. His five saves were the second-most on the team and tied for the sixth-most in Conference USA.
 
Allen's .192 opposing batting average against CUSA opponents is the lowest average by a Bulldog pitcher since LA Tech joined the conference. His four saves in league play are tied for the sixth-most by a Bulldog against league opponents, along with his 24 hits in CUSA play being the second-least recorded by a Tech pitcher.
 
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