Pitcher of the Year Watch List
John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year
LUBBOCK, Texas – Freshman right-hander Justin Garza was named to the latest 2013 National Pitcher of the Year watch list, while junior Michael Lorenzen was selected to the newest John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list, as the College Baseball Hall of Fame issued both announcements on Wednesday.
The awards, sponsored by Diamond Sports, will be presented on June 29 as part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual Night of Champions event in Lubbock.
Garza, the Saturday starter for No. 4 Cal State Fullerton, and Lorenzen, the Titans' starting center fielder and closer, have led CSF to a 42-8 record as Fullerton approaches the weekend at the top of the Big West standings with a 17-4 record.
Garza, a native of Ontario, Calif., sports a record of 11-0, while the Titans are an undefeated 13-0 when he starts. Garza's 11 wins tie for third in the country, and the total is tops in NCAA Division I play for freshmen. He is one of 22 pitchers in the nation named to the 2013 National Pitcher of the Year watch list.
The rookie has produced two five-start win streaks this season, and he enters this weekend's series against UC Irvine just one win short of setting the record for freshmen at Cal State Fullerton. His 11 victories tie Tyler Pill's 11 wins from the 2009 campaign.
Garza's 2.12 ERA ranks fourth in the Big West, and he has pitched in four combined shutouts. In 89 innings, Garza has struck out 70 and walked just 14 batters.
Lorenzen was one of 10 players named to the latest John Olerud Player of the Year Watch List.
This season, Lorenzen is batting .328 for the Titans, driving in a team-leading 43 RBIs, while also belting seven home runs. He has totaled 61 hits, including 10 doubles and three triples, managing a .527 slugging percentage while also stealing 10 bases.
Lorenzen has recorded 16 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI games, while his 13-game hitting streak earlier in the year was the longest of the season for any Titan.
On the mound, Lorenzen leads the Big West with 16 saves. The native of Anaheim, Calif., is 16-for-18 in save attempts this season, but has also earned two wins. He manages a 1.96 ERA and in 18 appearances has tossed 18 and 1/3 innings, striking out 13.
For more information on the Pitcher of the Year Award and the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award of the College Baseball Hall of Fame's Night of Champions, visit www.collegebaseballhall.org.