CHAMPAIGN — Illinois closer Tyler Jay was named one of five finalists for the Stopper of the Year Award on Wednesday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Jay, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and was named a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American last week.
Jay is 5-1 with an Illinois-record 14 saves this spring and a 0.60 ERA that ranks second in the nation. The NCBWA will name the Stopper of the Year at 10 a.m. June 13 in a news conference at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.