GREENVILLE, N.C. - Ryan Erickson continues to distinguish himself before the 2019 season even begins. The Lamar University ace reliever was named to the initial watch list for the 15th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball, as announced by the organization on Monday.
"It's great to see Ryan honored for his great season last year," said head coach
Will Davis. "We are hopeful that what he does on the field this year will turn this into more than just being on the watch list."
Erickson recorded one of the best ERAs in the conference and a team-leading 60 strikeouts. The senior righty had an incredible April - putting up a 0.90 ERA through 20 innings with 28 strikeouts to just 10 hits and four walks. He had a 0.143 opposing batting average, two saves, and a win that month. Erickson is second among all returning pitchers in the NCAA in leadoff out percentage - getting an out 86.84 percent of the time.
The Golden Triangle native is one of just four Southland Conference pitchers on the NCBWA Watch List this season, joining John Barr and Reeves Martin from New Orleans and Cody Lecompte from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Just 75 pitchers nationwide were named to the initial watch list which will be narrowed down as the season progresses. 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. The Longhorns' Corey Knebel won in 2011, with Southeastern Louisiana's Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012. UCLA's David Berg was crowned the winner in 2013, Louisville's Nick Burdi took home the 2014 honor and Berg became the award's first two-time winner in 2015. Miami (Fla.)'s Bryan Garcia was honored as the 2016 recipient followed by Louisville's Lincoln Henzman in 2017 and Florida's Michael Byrne last year.
