Rion Murrah, a former Bainbridge Bearcat and a senior on the High Point University baseball team, inked his first professional contract on Monday, signing with the Los Angeles Angels organization. Murrah is the second member of the 2018 team to sign into the professional ranks, joining fellow senior Hunter Lee, who was drafted by the Minnesota Twins last week.

“We are very excited that Rion is getting the chance to realize his dream of playing professional baseball in the Angels organization,” head coach Craig Cozart said. “In his two years at HPU, he was one of our most reliable bullpen arms and always took the mound with a passion to compete. Beyond the game, Rion was a tremendous student, teammate, and ambassador for High Point University. We are proud and excited to watch his success in pro ball.”

Murrah was a dominating presence on the hill in his senior campaign for High Point, registering a 5-3 record with a 2.06 ERA and six saves in 24 appearances. In 56.2 innings, the Bainbridge, Ga. native yielded 13 earned runs, walked 14 and struck out 55 for a remarkable 3.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He also held opponents to a .212 average while not allowing a run in 16 of his 24 appearances, 19 of which lasted longer than an inning. After transferring in from Tallahassee Community College, Murrah recorded nine saves in two years, the eighth-most in school history.

“I’d say being signed has been surreal,” Murrah said. “As a kid, you grow up dreaming of playing the game professionally, and to be given the opportunity to live out that childhood dream is just unbelievable. I’m truly grateful for this opportunity.

Murrah will join the Orem Owlz, the Angels’ advanced rookie affiliate in Orem, Utah. A member of the Pioneer League, Orem has made the playoffs in four straight seasons, winning the championship in 2016. The Owlz open the season on Friday at Grand Junction (Colorado).

Murrah and Lee join four other active High Point alums in the affiliated ranks in Cody Allen (Cleveland Indians), Jaime Schultz (Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay Triple-A), Chris Clare (Frederick Keys, Baltimore High-A), and Andre Scrubb (Great Lakes Loons, LA Dodgers Single-A).