April 21, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Penn State closer and All-American candidate Drew O'Neil was named to the Midseason Watch List for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, which was released at the end of the last week. The award is annually given by the NCBWA to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball. O'Neil, who was also on the preseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award, has had a standout season thus far for the Nittany Lions.
O'Neil is second in the Big Ten with seven saves this year and is a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities. His numbers have been dominating at this point in the season, just beyond the halfway point. O'Neil has a 0.57 ERA in 15.2 innings of work to go along with an 0-1 record in 16 appearances, which is second on the team. He is holding opposing hitters to a paltry .143 batting average and has given up just eight hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. He was struck out 16 and walked eight.
He has currently pitched 10 straight scoreless innings and is unscored upon in his last nine appearances. He has also given up just one hit in his last 7.2 innings of work. He was pitched in 10 of Penn State's 15 wins this year. For his career, he has made 39 appearances with the Nittany Lions and has given up an earned run in just four of those games. He also broke the Penn State career record for saves by recording his 16th career save earlier this year, breaking the record in just one season plus 20 games of the next season.
O'Neil and the Nittany Lions will host LaSalle on Tuesday and Youngstown State on Wednesday this week at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.