WICHITA, Kan. — Oregon State University junior right-handed pitcher Tony Bryant has been named a preseason First-Team All-American by the National College Baseball Writers Association.

The Kennewick High School graduate is one of two players from the Pac-12 Conference on the first team and one of eight from the three teams combined.

Bryant was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team last season after going 3-2 with a 1.52 earned run average — the fifth-lowest ERA with at least 40 innings in a season at OSU — and 12 saves in 28 games. He struck out 40 and walked just 11 in 47 innings and held opponents to a .224 batting average.

The right-hander was 12-for-12 in save opportunities and stranded 23-of-27 (85.1 percent) inherited runners. He allowed just eight earned runs all season, with two coming during his last 15 appearances, which included 16 innings of work.

He went on to have an impressive summer season, going 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 16 games for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League. He saved five games and struck out 19 in 18 2/3 innings of work.

In two seasons with the Beavers, Bryant, who was selected in the 25th round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Minnesota Twins but did not sign, is 3-2 with a 2.49 ERA in 42 games with one start. He has struck out 59 while walking just 16 in 68 2/3 innings. His 12 career saves are good for a tied for third in the OSU history books.

Bryant and the Beavers open the 2012 season with a four-game series at UC Santa Barbara that begins Feb. 17.

For more information on the Oregon State baseball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/Beaver_Baseball.