Sauer Added to NCBWA Stopper Award Watch List

San Diego State's Kelena Sauer was recently named to the 2023 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Midseason Watch List by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in Dallas, Texas.

Inaugurated in 2005, the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award is presented to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball. The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 7, with the winner revealed on Friday, June 16 at the 2023 College World Series.

A native of Mililani, Hawai'i, Sauer was one of 56 relief pitchers selected to the midseason watch list for the 18th annual award and is just one of two representatives from the Mountain West, joining Fresno State's Tommy Hopfe. Relievers who are not on the midseason list still have an opportunity to be named a finalist for the award.

Sauer, who garnered Mountain West Pitcher of the Week accolades on May 1, sits atop the conference with 10 saves, which is tied for sixth nationally. The Aztec right-hander posted saves in consecutive home victories over UNLV last weekend, helping the Scarlet and Black take sole possession of first place in the MW.
Against the Rebels, Sauer posted two strikeouts and induced a flyout in the ninth inning of the Aztecs' 4-2 triumph on April 28. He returned the following evening and posted his 10th save of the year, preserving SDSU's 5-2 victory. With his effort, the Aztec junior became the first San Diego State pitcher to reach double digits in saves since CJ Saylor notched 13 during the 2017 season.

Sauer also fanned two batters in a ninth-inning appearance earlier in the week against UC Irvine on April 25, giving him multiple strikeouts in 11 of 21 games pitched this year.
Sauer (0-2, 3.16 ERA, 32 SO, 25.2 IP) has not yielded an earned run or a walk in his last seven stints, allowing just one hit against 10 strikeouts in seven innings pitched during that span.
Former Aztec star and eight-year MLB veteran Addison Reed earned NCBWA Stopper of the Year honors in 2009 after leading the nation with 20 saves in 20 opportunities, finishing with a scant 0.65 ERA and 38 strikeouts against just seven walks in 27.2 innings of work.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, awards the Dick Howser Trophy presented by The Game Headwear, to the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year to the nation's top coach. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.

San Diego State returns to action this weekend when it travels to the Bay Area, May 5-7, for five key MW encounters with San José State.