CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bradley sophomore closer Matt Dennis (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows H.S.) is one of 39 pitchers named to the midseason watch list for the 11th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, according to an announcement from the NCBWA Tuesday afternoon.
The Stopper of the Year Award is presented annually to tne top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball during the College World Series. The NCBWA will announce the award's five finalists - the NCAA Division I saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts - June 3 prior to the start of NCAA Super Regional competition.
The reigning Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, Dennis already has set Bradley's single-season (9) and career (15) saves records midway through his sophomore season. The 6-foot-2 righthander begins the week tied for 16th nationally with his nine saves and he sports a 2-0 record with a 1.80 earned run average in his 30.0 innings pitched. In an odd combination, Dennis' 16 appearances are tied for the second fewest among the 27 players from across the nation who have recorded at least nine saves, but his 30.0 innings pitched rank as the sixth most among the 27 closers. He has worked more than a full inning to nail down six of his nine saves.
Dennis is one of just two MVC pitchers on the Stopper of the Year midseason watch list, joining Missouri State's Bryan Young.
Dennis saved all four of Bradley's wins last week, including a 5-4 victory against then No. 14 Iowa and the final two games in the weekend series against Wichita State. His work in the bullpen has helped Bradley (26-10) move 16 games over .500 for the first time since ending the 1996 season with a 40-22 overall record. As of Tuesday morning, the Braves checked in at No. 13 in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and they are receiving votes in both the NCBWA Top 30 and USA Today Coaches' Poll Top 25 rankings.
Bradley will continue its 7-game home stand Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game against Western Illinois, before closing the home stand with a weekend Valley series against Evansville Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) at Dozer Park.
