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Thu, Jun 11, 2009
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SNU's Matt Morgal was a 13th-round selection by the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday
(BETHANY, OKLA.)---Southern Nazarene University senior pitchers, Matt Morgal and Josh Cephas, were drafted in this week's Major League Baseball draft. Morgal was taken in the 13th-round of the Major League Baseball draft on Wednesday by the Toronto Blue Jays and was the 400th overall pick. Cephas was drafted in the 34th round of the Major League Baseball draft on Thursday by the San Diego Padres and was the 1,014th overall pick.
Morgal, a senior pitcher from Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, had a dominant 2009 season at Southern Nazarene in his only year at SNU, earning First Team All-SAC honors after finishing the year with a 10-2 record. Morgal had a record-breaking regular season, finishing with an SNU record 10 wins. Morgal also set a new school mark in strikeouts, recording 131, breaking the old record of 107. Morgal set a school record for strikeouts in a game as well, posting 18 in a win versus Mid-America Christian. Morgal finished with an ERA of 4.42 in 89.2 innings of work with only 38 walks. Morgal added six complete games in 13 starts and had one shutout.
Cephas, a senior pitcher from Berkley, California, spent two seasons at Southern Nazarene, combining for a record of 8-7 in two years on the mound. This year, Cephas was 5-2 with a 4.14 ERA and finished the season with 69 strikeouts to only 14 walks in 45.2 innings of work. Cephas also had a team high five saves and made 20 appearances during the year. For his career, Cephas finished with 118 strikeouts to only 39 walks in 109.1 innings of work and had a 5.52 ERA.
Morgal and Cephas become the 4th and 5th players in SNU baseball history to be drafted in the MLB draft. Morgal and Cephas also become the 12th and 13th players at Southern Nazarene to sign a professional baseball contract.
SNU finished with a final record of 37-15 and a 19-11 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Crimson Storm made the program's first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, earning a spot in the NAIA Opening Round.