HADLEY, Mass. -- Bates baseball rookie David Swift made some history on Wednesday, becoming the first Bobcat to earn All-NESCAC honors as a first-year, as announced by the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Swift (Yarmouth, Maine) was named second team All-NESCAC on the heels of a season that saw him lead Bates in OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) at .888. His seven home runs are the most by a Bobcat since Nate Pajka '15 smacked eight long balls in 2015 and the most by a Bates rookie since Pajka started his career with seven homers in 2012. Swift also led the Bobcats with 28 RBIs this season. 

Some of Swift's biggest performances included going 2-4 with a double and an RBI against MIT, hitting for the cycle against Thomas College, going 2-3 with a home run and three RBIs against Trinity, and going 3-5 with two home runs and four RBIs against the University of Southern Maine. 

In addition to his strong hitting, Swift played an outstanding first base for the Bobcats this year, making just one error in 244 chances. 

Swift joins Christian Beal '21 as the only Bates baseball players to earn All-NESCAC honors in their first years as Bobcats. But Beal won the award as a sophomore in 2019 after transferring in from Miami University, making Swift the first true first-year to earn the honor in Bates baseball history. The All-NESCAC awards date back to 2001.