MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Two players on the Morehead State baseball team were named to the Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Friday.
John Bakke and
Jarrett Miller, two anchors in the Morehead State bullpen in 2022, made the list along with two other OVC pitchers. Morehead State was the only OVC school with two players on the 81 player list.
Bakke, the Preseason Pitcher of the Year pick in the OVC, moved into third in Morehead State history in saves last season, closing out eight contests to move his career total to 15. He needs just three saves in 2023 to set a new career record in the Morehead State baseball program. Former Eagle Michael Thompson's mark of 17 saves is currently the program career record. In 2022, the 6'4 lefty finished with a 4-3 record, 4.05 ERA, and 70 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Jarrett Miller helped lock down the bullpen all season long in 2022, and served as a closer after Bakke moved into the starting rotation in late April. He registered his first and only save of the season vs. Eastern Illinois on May 8th to clinch a series victory, striking out two Panthers across two innings. The Plymouth, Ohio native struck out four or more batters in relief three seperate times, all coming in conference play. He finished 2022 with a 4-2 record in a team-high 30 appearances (T-1st in the OVC), a 5.98 ERA, and 41 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.
Morehead State's season opens Saturday with a doubleheader vs. Norfolk State.
