May 6, 2008

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Former Marshall University baseball player Brendan Murphy will play Independent League baseball for the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League.

Murphy played two years of baseball at Marshall University where he majored in Sport Management & Marketing.

"This is a great opportunity for Murphy to get back into baseball after suffering a back injury last season," head coach Jeff Waggoner said. "He is a player that deserves the opportunity to play professionally, and this is a great chance for him to take advantage of that opportunity."

During his two years, Murphy registered a .285 overall batting average that included a .315 clip in 2007. Murphy also blasted 15 home runs and 70 RBIs during the 2006 season, and owns the second spot on Marshall's single-season RBI list and is third on the single-season doubles list with 19 (achieved in 2006). Murphy also ranks in the top 10 on the Thundering Herd's all-time home-run list with 25.

Murphy started in all 105 games he played in during his time at Marshall. He led the Herd in slugging percentage in 2006 (.640) and was second on the team in the category with a .486 clip in 2007.

Kalamazoo (in the Central Division), finished its 2007 season with an overall record of 51-45 and will begin this season, May 21-23 against the Florence Freedom.