Baseball 5/28/2026 10:34:00 AM

Millikin’s Houchins and Akins Named D3baseball.com All-Americans

DECATUR, Illinois—Millikin University sophomore pitchers Gavin Houchins (Moweaqua, Central A&M H.S.) and Caleb Akins (Troy, Ohio, H.S.) were named to the 2026 DIII Baseball.com All-American Team announced on May 28.

Houchins, the Big Blue's closer, was named to the All-America Second Team while Akins, a starting pitcher, was named to the Fourth Team.

Houchins recorded a school record nine saves this season and posted a 1.32 ERA that ranked him in the third in the country. Houchins was 4-0 with 55 strikeouts. Houchins was named to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team and ABCA\Rawlings All-Region Second Team. His nine saves currently ranks sixth in NCAA Division III.

Akins went 10-2 on the season earning CCIW All-Conference Second Team honors. He posted a 2.63 ERA and had 84 strikeouts. Earlier this week he was selected to the ABCA\Rawlings All-Region First Team. Akins is tied for fourth in NCAA DIII in victories and ranked 10th in the country with WHIP at 0.95.

On May 26, Houchins and Akins were named to the D3baseball.com All-Region First Team for Region 8. Millikin freshman pitcher Brayden Saling (Springfield, Williamsville H.S.) and sophomore designated hitter Ty Cribbett (Gibson City, Gibson City Melvin Sibley H.S.) earned All-Region honors as well.

Saling was an All-Region Second Team selection after posting a 10-0 record with a 2.80 ERA. He is currently tied for fourth in Division III in victories. Saling was named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference First Team and the ABCA\Rawlings All-Region Second Team.

Cribbett was a Third Team honoree. He was the Big Blue's top hitter in 2026 batting .369 with three home runs and 36 RBI. He drew 21 walks and was hit by a pitch 13 times for a .486 on base percentage. Cribbett was a CCIW All-Conference First Team selection.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Caleb Akins: P; 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R

#22 Ty Cribbett: INF; 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/R

#23 Gavin Houchins: P; 6' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

#13 Brayden Saling: IF; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Caleb Akins
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#22 Ty Cribbett
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; L/R
: INF

#23 Gavin Houchins
: 6' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

#13 Brayden Saling
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: IF