« Baseball 2011

Arik Sikula

School
Marshall
Position
Pitcher
Major
Management
ERA
3.31
W-L
2-3

Classroom

As a junior, Sikula earned Conference USA All-Academic team honors and made first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District. He has been named a C-USA Commissioner’s Cup recipient and medal winner on multiple occasions and Sikula’s a member of the Golden Key Club, Beta Gamma Sigma and the National Foundation of Collegiate Scholars.  After graduation in the spring, Sikula plans to earn his PhD in biomechanics and specialize in shoulder and elbow rehabilitation/prevention at the University of Kentucky.

Character

Sikula has shown great worth ethic in both the classroom, on the diamond and making any sacrifice for the betterment of the team. Each year the MU baseball team competes in the Herd Challenge, which tests the players’ strength, endurance and mind.  Sikula has placed in the top five in the event all four years as a member of the team. Beyond his academic and athletic success, Sikula has pitched in any role asked of him while in Huntington. As a freshman, Sikula served as the team’s closer, then setting the single-season saves record (8) as the team advanced all the way to the C-USA championship. As a sophomore, Sikula pitched as the set-up man prior to joining the weekend rotation for the Herd in 2010. Sikula constantly keeps an up-beat attitude and is a vocal leader on the squad whether the team is winning or struggling.

Community

Sikula has made several visits to Cabell Huntington Hospital to visit injured or sick children from the area and has also met with the elderly at retirement homes in the Tri-State area. He has also volunteered to read to and assist in teaching elementary school kids.

Competition

As a junior, Sikula became the first Marshall pitcher to be named first-team All-C-USA. He posted a 3.88 ERA with a 6-5 record overall and a 3-2 tally with a 3.72 ERA against league opponents as Marshall finished with its most conference victories (12) and best finish (T-3rd) in school history. He is currently the active team leader in career victories (10), appearances (63), saves (eight), innings pitched (147.1) and strikeouts (129) and ranks third all-time in saves and eighth in program history in total appearances.