Feb. 15, 2016
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Penn State senior right-handed pitcher Jack Anderson (Evanston, Ill.) was one of 70 relievers named to the initial watch list for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, the association announced Monday.
Anderson, an Academic All-Big Ten selection the past two seasons, posted a team-best 2.98 ERA in 2015 to rank ninth amongst all pitchers in the conference. He also led the Nittany Lions with 29 appearances, tallying four wins and five saves, and he finished a third of the Lions' games. His most impressive stretch in 2015 came late in the season against Pitt, Rutgers and Michigan State when he made appearances in six consecutive games, throwing 14 innings with a 1.93 ERA, 1-1 record and three saves.
Anderson has 12 career saves to rank third all-time at Penn State and 69 appearances to rank fourth, 14 shy of the program record.
The Atlantic Coast Conference led the way with 10 players on this year's Watch List, while the Big Ten and Pacific-12 each had eight honorees and the Southeastern Conferences had seven. The Big South, Colonial and Sun Belt each had four and a total of 18 different conferences were represented.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. The 2016 Stopper of the Year Watch List will be updated with a midseason release on Wednesday, April 27, including the national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 8, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced at the 2016 College World Series.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.
Penn State opens its season Friday at the USA Baseball National Training Center, hosting a tournament including Monmouth, Army and Bryant. The Nittany Lions will first play Monmouth Friday at 2 p.m. and then take on Army in a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. They will conclude the tournament Sunday against Bryant starting at 10 a.m.
Tickets for the 2016 Penn State baseball season are on sale now by calling the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park ticket office at 814-272-1711 or visiting GoPSUsports.com.