NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Finalists

RICHMOND, Ky. – All-American relief pitcher Will Brian is a finalist for the 17th National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award.
 
The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.  Brian is one of 10 finalist from all Division I programs, and is the second Colonel to be chosen as a finalist for the award.  He joins fellow Kentuckian Aaron Ochsenbein who was one of six finalists in 2019, two days after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
 
The Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 17, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
 
Four of the finalists hail from the Southeastern Conference, while the other six are from the American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, ASUN, Colonial, Southern and Sun Belt.  Three finalists are two victories away from reaching the 2022 NCAA College World Series in Omaha. 
 
The nation's statistical leaders are featured on the list including NCAA saves leader Tristan Stivors from Texas State, who registered 18 saves for the Bobcats.  Brian is ranked No. 2 in the nation with 15 saves.  Miami sophomore Andrew Walters is third with 14 saves.
 
Brian was chosen as a third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.  The Brandenburg, Kentucky native went 3-0 in 2022 with a 1.83 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 39 and one-third innings pitched.  The redshirt junior allowed only eight runs and 16 hits all season.
 
Brian broke EKU's single season saves record of 12.  He was first in the ASUN in appearances (31) and third in strikeouts among pitchers who did not start a game.  Brian made five appearances against RPI top-100 teams, including No. 1 Tennessee, without allowing a hit or a run and striking out nine in five and one-thirds innings.  He was the first team ASUN All-Conference pick at relief pitcher. 
 
The Colonels won all three of their games in pool play to earn a spot in the ASUN Tournament semifinals.  Despite being picked to place eighth overall in the ASUN Preseason Poll, Eastern Kentucky finished the season 38-20, champions of the ASUN West Division and tied for the best conference record in the ASUN.  It's the most wins for an EKU team since the 1990 squad won 42 games.
 
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year to the nation's top coach.  It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-America team, Division I, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.