WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Baseball placed six on All-MAAC teams, headlined by junior Rob Hensey (Campbell Hall, NY/Goshen) being named MAAC Pitcher of the Year and freshman Dixon Black (Archbald, PA/Valley View) earning conference Rookie of the Year honors. MU had four first teamers, a second teamer and one on the All-Rookie Team
 
In addition to their major award accolades, Hensey and Black both earned spots on the All-MAAC First Team, with Black earning the nod at second base and Hensey as a left-handed pitcher. Senior right-handed pitcher Dan Klepchick (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) picked up his second career all-league honor, while sophomore Alex Barker (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) was also on the First Team in the utility spot, highlighting his abilities this season both on the mound and as a designated hitter. Senior outfielder Jalen Jenkins (Waxhaw, NC/Cuthbertson/Brunswick CC) was named to the All-MAAC Second Team, while Black also earned a spot on the conference's All-Rookie Team.
 
Hensey is the seventh conference Pitcher of the Year in program history, and the second since joining the MAAC, with Ricky Dennis winning the honor in 2016. He joins seven other Hawks to previously earn All-MAAC First Team accolades. His 0.96 ERA ranks second in the nation, while his 0.77 WHIP is third in the country and his 9.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio is fourth. Hensey is 5-0 this year and has struck out 37 batters next to just four walks, allowing just four runs all season long. The junior has opponents hitting only .189 against him.
 
Black is the 10^th Rookie of the Year in the history of the program and second since MU became a MAAC member, joining Klepchick who accomplished it in 2018. Black becomes the fourth freshman in program history to earn First Team honors and the first in the MAAC, joining Andrew McGee, Rick Niederhaus and Nick Pulsonetti, who did it in the NEC. He currently is Monmouth's leading hitter at .350, with his 36 total hits the most on the team. He has eight doubles, a triple and three home runs and was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week a league-best three times.
 
Klepchick picked up his second All-MAAC honor and was named to the First Team for the first time, posting a 4-2 record and 1.51 ERA with 51 strikeouts to six walks. He has completed two games, and opponents are hitting .191 against him. He joins Hensey in national rankings, listing ninth in ERA and WHIP as well as seventh in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 8.50.
 
Barker has contributed on both ends this season en route to picking up an All-MAAC First Team nod in his first year at MU. At the plate, he has played in 25 games at designated hitter, where he leads the Hawks with seven home runs and 21 RBI's while also notching six doubles. On the mound, he has also been staller, posting a 3-1 record and 1.87 ERA, striking out 33 next to just eight walks. Twice this season, Barker has been named the John Olerud Award National Two-Way Player of the Week.


Jenkins earns a Second Team honor as MU's second leading hitter, posting a .344 batting average with five triples, a number that ranks fifth in the country. Jenkins has driven in 12 and started 28 games in the outfield, scoring 19 runs. He's slugging .521, second on MU.
 
Four players on the league's First Team is the most since 2016, when MU had Shaine Hughes, Dan Shea, Grant Lamberton and Ricky Dennis listed.
 
The Hawks will host #7 Siena on Friday in the MAAC quarterfinals. The doubleheader begins at 11:00 a.m. and will air on ESPN+.