Summer (2014):
Benson played for the Alaska Goldpanners in the Alaska Baseball League over the summer where he was named to the league''s all-star game for his performance on the mound. The big righty helped guide his team to a 33-9 overall record and the ABL Championship as he went 6-0 while striking out 47 in 49.1 innings pitched. His 2.92 ERA was second best on the team for the summer and the top mark among the team''s starters. For his play he was named the Goldpanners MVP for the pitching staff.
Junior (2014):
Coming back from injury, Benson spent most of his time coming out of the pen as he made 19 appearances for the Tigers while making a pair of spot starts. Closing to start the season, Benson posted a career-best five saves in 38.0 innings pitched. For the year, he went 1-4 on the mound with a 5.68 ERA. Benson struckout 26 while allowing opponents to hit .258 against him.
Sophomore (2013):
Finished the season with the third-most starts on the team picking up eight in 11 appearances while throwing the third-most innings at 55.2. Posted a 4.04 ERA while tallying a 2-4 record. Additionally, out of the pen, he posted one save. Stuck out 19 on the season. Picked up wins in hist first two starts including throwing six scoreless innings against San Jose State to pick up the Tigers'' first win of the season. He earned his first collegiate save against UCSB on May 18 as he pitched a one-hit, scoreless, ninth in his second relief appearance.
Freshman (2012):
Led the Tigers pitching staff in ERA, opponents batting average, innings pitched and strikeouts. Went 3-9 in 14 starts, with a 3.34 ERA. Allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of 14 starts, but the Tigers scored four runs or less of run support in 10 of his 14 outings. Logged a complete game shutout of Brown on March 24, strikeout out a season-high six. Earned his first win with a seven-inning start at Kansas State (March 2), allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out five. Matched his season high with six strikeouts against UC Irvine (March 30) in a 7.1 inning, stint. Tossed 8.1 innings of shutout ball against UC Davis (April 14), allowing five hits until the ninth inning when a walk-off home run handed him a 1-0 loss. Eighteen of his 46 strikeouts came on called strikes, 11th in the Big West. Was eighth in the BWC in innings pitched. Ninth in the Big West in complete games with two.
High School:
Posted a 0.45 earned run average in 31 innings pitched while striking out 48 batters against just two walks as a senior at Sauguro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Helped head coach Ryan Dyer’s Sabercats to a 34-4 record in 2011, winning the Division 4A State Championship and earning a No. 10 national ranking. Tossed a no-hitter over McClintock High School. Named Second Team All-Desert Sky Region and earned a spot on the 4A All-Star team. A three-year letter winner in baseball, he also earned a letter as a junior on the soccer team.
Personal:
Michael Ryan Benson... Son of Sharie Benson... Michael is a Business Administration Major.
