Rising senior Kevin Mahala was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round of Saturday’s MLB First-Year Player Draft.

As the everyday shortstop for the Colonials, Mahala batted .286 with four home runs and a team-high 47 RBIs. His 20 doubles on the season also led the team, rank second in the Atlantic 10 conference and sit at third most in program history.

As the 555th overall selection in the draft, Mahala becomes the highest GW athlete chosen since Eric Cantrell went in the seventh round to the Kansas City Royals in 2010.

Mahala also joins former teammate Shane Kemp as the only Colonials since the program’s inception to be selected by Pittsburgh. Kemp was a 26th round pick of the 2015 draft and made 10 combined appearances on the mound between two minor league affiliates for the Pirates last season.

The Basking Ridge, NJ native is still expected to return to the Colonials for his senior season after competing with the Wilmar Stingers of the Northwoods League over this summer.