Purcell was currently named to the midseason watch list for the sixth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, an honor given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
He currently leads the Ohio Valley Conference with eight saves. The right-hander is 1-1 on the year with a 5.40 ERA, and he has recorded 28 strikeouts in only 21.2 innings of work.
The Vincennes, Ind. native picked up his first save of the season at Western Carolina by striking out the side in the ninth to preserve a thrilling comeback win for the Colonels. Four days later, he earned his first career win at SEC foe Tennessee. Since then, Purcell has picked up saves against the likes of Purdue, UNC Greensboro and East Tennessee State. He has also secured two crucial conference saves against Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay State.
Of the 45 pitchers on the list, Purcell is the lone representative from the OVC.
