COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Yet another member of the Tennessee Tech baseball team finds himself among the nation's best as sophomore Seth Lucio has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Mid-Season Watch List.
Making the transition from weekday starter to closer this season, Lucio has already broken the Tech single-season record for saves, recording nine. He is also just four saves away from becoming the Tech career leader in saves.
Lucio owns a 1.20 ERA in 2013 and leads the Golden Eagles with 20 appearances. In 30 innings, the right hander has allowed just four earned runs and 16 hits. He has struck out 41 batters and allowed just a .154 average on his way to a 2-1 record.
Fifty-one players from across the nation have been named to the list, all looking to become the ninth winner of the Stopper of the Year Award.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. 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 5, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced during the 2013 College World Series.
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006 and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007. Georgia's Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San Diego State's Addison Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas' Chance Ruffin earned the honor in 2010.
Texas' Corey Knebel won in 2011 with Southeastern Louisiana's Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012. Knebel is on the 2013 watch list.
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.
