Missouri State University

April 25, 2012

LUBBOCK, Texas - Sophomore right-hander Nick Petree was one of 51 Division I pitchers named on the College Baseball Hall of Fame's initial Pitcher of the Year Watch List Tuesday. Petree is one of just two Missouri Valley Conference pitchers to be considered for the award, which will be announced June 30 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the annual College Baseball Night of Champions.

Petree, who leads the nation with an 0.77 earned run average, is one of three players on the list with an ERA below 1.00. In his last outing on Friday, Petree picked up his MVC-leading eighth win of the season, scattering four hits over six innings while striking out nine hitters to lead the Bears to a 6-0 win at Wichita State--their first-ever shutout of the Shockers on their home field. The Clinton, Mo., product has not allowed an earned run since March 2, a string of 49.1-consecutive innings over seven starts.

Petree, who is 3-1 with 30 strikeouts over 28.1 innings pitched in Valley play, leads the MVC in overall victories and ERA, and ranks third in innings pitched (70.1) and fourth in strikeouts (67). Additionally, Petree's season win total ranked fourth in all of Division I through games of April 22, and if the season ended today, his 0.77 ERA would be the lowest for any Valley pitcher reaching the qualifying minimum in a single season since Tulsa's Walt Wrona posted a 0.43 mark in 1974.

The Bears (29-12, 8-3 MVC) return to Hammons Field tonight to open a four-game homestand with a 6:35 p.m. contest against Missouri.