MIDDLETOWN, CT. – For the third season in a row the Wesleyan baseball team sees two named NESAC All-Conference selections as Ernie Little '26 and Jake Acker '27 earn Second Team recognition, as announced by the conference office in Hadley, MA., on Wednesday morning.

Ernie Little '26 | Second Base | Second Team



Now a four-time all-conference selection, Little completed his best season to date with the Cardinals as he closes his career as a junior. The 2023 NESCAC Rookie of the Year has previously earned First Team honors in 2023 and 2024.
Marking his second 30-steal season, a program record, Little set the program record for career bases stolen, finishing the season with a new total of 84 stolen bases through three seasons. Little achieved the milestone during the Spring Break trip to Tucson, AZ., against Augsburg, breaking Josh Pepe's '95 previous record of 66 career stolen bases.

Little was not done. Through 34 games this season, Little recorded a team leading 45 hits and cleared with a .324 batting average as the lineup's leadoff batter. Little returned home 35 times, second only to teammate Evan Diaz. Marking a .446 slugging percentage, Little finished the season offensively with five doubles, three triples, and two home runs while finishing second on the team with 27 RBI. From the field, Little's fielding percentage leveled out at .971, assisting 69 times.

For his efforts, Little became the 56^th Cardinal within the program to break 100 career hits, joining teammates Luke LaSaracina, Diaz, and head coach Mark Woodworth. Little reached the milestone during the Spring Break doubleheader with Crown and Carthage and was named the NESCAC Player of the Week on March 17 after opening the first eight games of the season with an eight-game hit streak and five multi-hit games.

Through 101 career games played, Little started 99 times. During those 101 games, Little recorded 137 hits, earning 101 runs, four of which were homers.

Jake Acker '27 | Catcher | Second Team

Earning All-NESCAC honors for the first time, Acker finished his sophomore season with the Cardinals as the starting catcher while fitting into the batting rotation in 35 games. With 116 at bats, Acker made contact on 35 hits while recording 31 runs, the third most on the team. Leading the way with 10 doubles, Acker finished with a .302 batting average, a .414 slugging percentage, and returned one home run and 20 RBI.

Acker's home run came in the fifth inning of game two of the April 19 doubleheader with Amherst, giving the Cardinals a 9-2 lead as the ball fell over the left field fence.

From behind home plate, Acker averaged .965 fielding percentage, marking 252 putouts and 25 assists on 287 chances. Acker led the NESCAC in putouts.