Oakland University freshman Nate Recknagel of Lake Orion, Mich., became the first OU baseball player to earn All-American status as Collegiate Baseball named the utility player to its Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team. The rookie saw equal time this year at first base, catcher and designated hitter.

“Nate has proven himself as the best freshman to play at Oakland in my seven years here,” head coach Mark Avery said. “He has been our only All-American and to do that while battling injuries and still put up the numbers that he did, that’s incredible.”

Starting in 45 of 48 games in 2005, Recknagel led the team in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.351), runs (32), hits (59), doubles (14), total bases (90), slugging percentage (.536) and on-base percentage (.414). His .351 average also was good for fourth in the Mid-Continent Conference standings. He additionally tied for eighth in the league in homeruns with five, tied for fifth in doubles, tied for ninth in total bases and was ranked ninth in slugging percentage and sixth in on-base percentage.

Recknagel’s other accolades during the 2005 season include being named to the All-Mid-Con first team, one of just two freshmen to make either first or second team. And he became the first Golden Grizzly baseball player to ever receive national recognition as he was named by the College Baseball Foundation as one of their Players of the Week. The foundation’s weekly honor roll is published every Tuesday and features many of the top collegiate players from across the country. That same week, Recknagel also was recognized by the Mid-Continent Conference as its Player of the Week.

Already appearing in Oakland’s Division I record book after just his first season with the Golden Grizzlies, Recknagel ranks fifth in single-season batting average, ninth in hits, seventh in slugging percentage and tied for fifth in doubles and fourth in doubles per game (0.29).

For more information on OU’s baseball team, visit the OU Athletics Web site.