GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD RELEASE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State junior outfielder Niko Hulsizer has been selected to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.

The Golden Spikes Award, which will be awarded June 28 in Los Angeles, honors the nation's top amateur player. The preseason watch list includes 55 of the top college and high school players in the United State.

The Golden Spikes Award timeline is below:

• Monday, March 26: Golden Spikes Award fan nominations begin
• Sunday, April 1: Golden Spikes Award fan nominations end
• Tuesday, April 10: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list announced
• Monday, May 21: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, voting begins
• Sunday, June 3: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists voting ends
• Wednesday, June 6: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, voting begins
• Friday, June 22: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists voting ends
• Thursday, June 28: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation

Hulsizer, the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Year and 2018 Preseason Player of the Year, ranked second in the nation with 27 home runs, which was a Morehead State and OVC single-season record. He also collected 193 total bases, which ranked as the best total in OVC and school history. With 21 doubles as well, he became the first player in program history with at least 20 homers and 20 doubles in the same season.

He finished the year high in the national rankings, placing first in RBI per game (1.39), second in RBI (82), second in slugging percentage (.775) and total bases and sixth in runs scored (69). Hulsizer finished with a .349 batting average in the Eagles' 59 games and had a .435 on-base percentage while also recording six outfield assists. He had 87 total hits, tallied 28 multi-hit games and also had 19 multiple-RBI efforts.

He has also been tabbed to seven preseason All-American teams.