BOSTON – The University at Albany baseball team has been prominently featured in the 2026 America East annual awards, highlighted by Dylan Banner being named the conference's Pitcher of the Year. In total, the Great Danes secured seven honors from the America East. The Great Danes' award winners include:
 

• Pitcher of the Year: Dylan Banner
• All-Conference First Team: Dylan Banner (SP), Matthew Mariano (RP)
• All-Conference Second Team: Tre Mariano (Util.)
• All-Rookie Team: Patrick DeSarno (2B), Jaxon Mueller (1B)
• All-Academic Team: Cooper Loyal

 
"Congrats to the guys for their achievements," said Head Coach Jon Mueller. "It's always nice to be recognized by the coaches for their body of work in America East competition."
 
Dylan Banner | Sr. | Starting Pitcher
Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-Conference
The America East Pitcher of the Year anchored the Great Danes' rotation to earn First Team All-Conference honors. The senior out of Plainview, N.Y., made history by becoming the first player in program history to be named the America East Pitcher of the Year. He also marks UAlbany's first major award winner since Dan Schoonmaker was named Player of the Year back in 2004.
 
Serving as the team's premier starting option on the mound throughout the 2026 campaign, Banner led the staff with 13 starts and three complete games. Over 80.0 innings pitched, he compiled a 3.94 ERA—which ranked as the second lowest in the conference and first among all starting pitchers—while pacing the Great Danes' defense and ranking among the league's best with 63 strikeouts.
 
Matthew Mariano | R-Sr. | Relief Pitcher
First Team All-Conference
Mariano locked down a spot on the All-Conference First Team following a stellar season in the bullpen. The redshirt senior from Clifton Park, N.Y., provided consistent, elite relief depth to secure the late innings for the Great Danes, logging a 5-2 record across 14 appearances. He posted a sharp 3.41 ERA, striking out 41 batters over 63.1 innings of work. His ERA led all pitchers throughout the entire conference.
 
Tre Mariano | R-Sr. | Utility
Second Team All-Conference
Earning Second Team All-Conference honors, Mariano proved to be one of the most versatile pieces on the UAlbany roster. The redshirt senior from Cohoes, N.Y., started 40 games, finishing second on the team with a .301 batting average while leading the squad with a .514 slugging percentage. He was a main producer for the Great Danes' offense all year, driving in 30 runs while adding 10 doubles and seven home runs.
 
Patrick DeSarno | Fr. | Second Base
All-Rookie Team
DeSarno earned a spot on the All-Rookie team following an impressive debut collegiate season on the infield. The freshman second baseman from Mineola, N.Y., stepped into a prominent role early to start 45 games and lead the team with 30 walks drawn. He held a strong .286 batting average with 46 hits, contributing 17 RBIs and showcasing durable defensive contributions with 93 assists (.946 FLD%) on the year.
 
Jaxon Mueller | R-Fr. | First Base
All-Rookie Team
Mueller secured an All-Rookie selection after showcasing strong production in his first full season of action. Hailing from Stillwater, N.Y., the redshirt freshman first baseman batted an even .300 through 36 starts to establish himself as an impact foundational bat for the program. He collected 42 hits, including 10 doubles and three home runs, collecting 25 RBIs. In the field, he recorded 237 putouts with a steady .976 fielding percentage.
 
Cooper Loyal | Jr. | Infield
All-Academic Team
Loyal was named to the America East All-Academic Team for his exceptional performances both on the diamond and in the classroom. The junior from Victor, N.Y., started 47 games for the Great Danes, demonstrating plate discipline by drawing 29 walks and leading the team with four triples. Defensively, he turned 23 double plays and collected 123 assists over the course of the season. He also maintained a stellar 3.93 GPA while pursuing his degree in Business Administration.
 
With the regular-season honors locked in, the Great Danes now turn their attention to the postseason as play shifts to Vestal, N.Y., for the America East Baseball Championship. The action gets underway tomorrow, with No. 6 UAlbany taking the diamond to battle No. 3 Maine in a high-stakes, single-elimination matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at the Bearcats Baseball Complex. For more information, click here. For tickets, click here.
 
Keep up with UAlbany baseball by following the team on X (@UAlbanybaseball), Instagram (@ualbanybaseball), and Facebook (UAlbany Baseball).