Good morning! Did you know that new graduates can pick up a free Krispy Kreme donut for free? And not just one, an entire dozen. If you or someone you know is a recent grad, please relay this important message.

What else are we tossing into today’s Brew?

🏆 Fab Five
👟 Poised For Prelims
​🌾 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Late Nights. In a game that didn’t start until close to 10:00pm CT, the Shockers came out swinging, but fell just short after a 10-6 loss in their first game of the AAC Tournament.

Payton Tolle got things started off right with an RBI single to put the Shockers ahead. It would be the only time WSU led the ballgame. Memphis came back with five runs across the second and third innings, and the Shockers did everything they could to make up the deficit. Brock Rodden blasted a deep one out to right field for a solo home run and finished the game with three RBI’s.

Even though it didn’t end how WSU had wanted, there’s still hope left. Later today, the Shockers will face off on ESPN+ against the No. 2 seed Houston Cougars for a chance to stay alive.

🔼 Fab Five. This season, the Shockers produced some high-quality play on the field, and it showed as the AAC released their All-Conference awards following the regular season. FIVE players earned a spot on the AAC All-Conference First Team, the most in the league.

AAC All-Conference First Team

• Grant Adler

• Clark Candiotti

• Brock Rodden (more on him later)

• Chuck Ingram

• Payton Tolle

AAC All-Conference Second Team

• Jace Miner

• Kyte McDonald

AAC All-Conference Freshman Team

• Jack Little

• Nate Snead

Coach Loren Hibbs (more on him later, also) was beaming after the news. “I’m so proud of all our players recognized by the conference.” Each player contributed significantly in what will be remembered as an incredible season by all Shocker fans.

🔼 Poised For Prelims. As the NCAA West Preliminaries begin today, WSU is sending 11 of its student-athletes to compete for a shot at the NCAA Championships.

On the men’s side, Brady Palen and Yuben Goncalves lead the way for the Shockers in their respective events. Palen will compete in the high jump as the No. 5 ranked jumped in the region. Goncalves will compete in both the 400-meter hurdles and triple jump, and will be the only multi-event athlete in the field for WSU.

For the women, Destiny Masters, after putting on a clinic in the AAC Championship, will compete for the Shockers in the high jump alongside Marissa Jensen. Zarrey Sams will go out in the long jump, and Samantha Marx rounds out the squad in the javelin.

Action on the track starts today with the men’s 400 meter hurdles first round. Stay tuned to see Goncalves, and the rest of the crew, compete throughout the rest of the week here.

🤔 SHOCKER TRIVIA

Big Awards Day. Shocker baseball was showered with awards, and rightfully so, as the postseason officially begins. There is one award that a Shocker player is up for that has not been finalized.

The question today—do you know which Shocker is a semifinalist for the John Olerud award?

Think you got it? Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

The AAC announced its year-end honors earlier this week, but a pair of Shockers earned some awards that stood out among the rest.

Brock Rodden: American Athletic Conference Player of the Year

The Preseason Player of the Year delivered on the hype with an incredible season for the Shockers. Starting in all 53 games, the junior went .360 at the plate with 16 home runs (second most in the AAC) and drove in 61 total runs. He becomes the first WSU player to earn the award since Casey Gillaspie won it in 2014.

Coach Loren Hibbs: American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year

Coach Hibbs lead WSU to a 30+ wins and their best finish in the AAC since joining the conference in 2018. He becomes the first coach to earn the award since the legendary Gene Stephenson won it in 1998. “I am so proud of all our players…and the role of the entire staff in our success this season,” said Coach Hibbs after learning of his win.

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Shocker Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

📅 THE DAYS AHEAD

Wednesday 5/24

👟 Track and Field at NCAA West Preliminaries in Sacramento, CA | Watch

⚾️ Baseball vs. Houston approx. 47 minutes after 3:00 game @ AAC Tournament in Clearwater, FL

Thursday 5/25

👟 Track and Field at NCAA West Preliminaries in Sacramento, CA | Watch

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Payton Tolle!

The John Olerud award goes to the NCAA’s best two-way player of the year, and Tolle definitely deserves to be in the conversation. He hit .319 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI’s alongside his 9-2 record on the mound with a 4.57 ERA and 95 strikeouts. Sheesh.

Have a great Wednesday, y’all.