ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Mercyhurst College pitching standout Nick Gillung has been selected in the 19th round of 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, it was announced Tuesday evening by St. Louis officials.

Gillung, who was drafted 590th overall, becomes the first Mercyhurst player to be taken in the draft since Jamie Walczak and Steve Grife were both selected in 2009.

"I am so happy for Nick and his family," said 12th-year head coach Joe Spano. "He has been such a big part of the program's success over the past four years. He is one of the all-time greats in our school's history. I know that he will be successful at the next level because he is one of the most competitive kids I have ever coached."

A native of Worthville, Pa., Gillung capped off his career at Mercyhurst by helping the Lakers to a program-record 42 wins and a second-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament. He finished the season 8-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 69.1 innings pitched. He also set the Lakers single-season for strikeouts (102) and improved his career victory total to 21, tying the second-best Mercyhurst mark all-time.

Following the season, he was named an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division First Team selection before capturing American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region Second Team accolades.

"All I wanted to do when I came to Mercyhurst was to help my team win games and, more importantly, a championship," said Gillung via email. "I am so lucky to have been a part of such great teams with such awesome teammates. Being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals is overwhelming, it is a dream come true. It is something that every kid dreams about. To have this dream come true is amazing. I am so thankful for this opportunity."