Kansas City, MO – Coming off one of their most successful seasons in program history, the UC baseball team closes out their historic run with two players being named to the NAIA All-American team, announced by the national office Tuesday. Bryan Leef and Thomas Gutierrez become just the sixth pair of Patriots to earn NAIA All-American honors in the same season.

Leef becomes just the fifth Patriot player to earn NAIA First Team All-American accolades and first since 2017 when Noah Gapp earned those honors.  Leef is also just the fourth Patriot in the program history to be a multiple-time All-American joining elite company of Mike King, Devin Prinz and Jason Ellis.  During the 2021 season, Leef was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year becoming the first Patriots in 13 years to achieve that honor, while he was also named to the MSC First Team All-Conference team.

The Yorba Linda, CA native had one of the most prolific season in program history at the plate hitting .423 with 83 hits, 19 doubles, 29 homeruns, 81 RBI and 75 runs scored on the year.  Leef blasted nine homeruns over Cumberlands final six games to lead the NAIA in homers, while he ranked second in slugging percentage with 0.974 and third in total bases with 191.  The senior led Cumberlands in six offensive categories en route to setting the program's single season record for homeruns, RBI's, and run scored.  Leef had three multi-homers games, including blasting three bombs and the game-winner in UC's 11-10 win over Freed-Hardeman to clinch the Mid-South Conference Tournament for the Patriots.  Leef broke Cumberlands career homerun record against Shawnee State and finished his career with 59 dingers, while he also set the new career record for batting average with a .401 average.

Gutierrez becomes the third UC  pitcher in the last five years to earn All-American honors as he was named to the Honorable Mention Team.  Gutierrez was the fifth Patriot pitcher to be named the MSC Pitcher of the Year after going 10-0 with 2.18 ERA with three complete games and a shutout win.  The junior hurled 66.0 innings recording 74 strikeouts, which ranks third on the team, scattering 18 walks and limiting opponents to a .277 average.  Gutierrez's 10 wins rank 14^th in the NAIA and is tied for fourth most wins in season in program history.  Gutierrez is the first Patriot to record double-digit wins without recording a loss in the Dakstats era, surpassing Zach Hurley's 9-0 performance during the 2018 season.

Cumberlands finished the season with a 46-8 record and were ranked third in the NAIA Coaches' Poll for majority of the year.  The Patriots captured their third consecutive MSC regular season championship and their third tournament title in program history, first since 2017.  UC advanced to the NAIA opening round for the fourth straight season.

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