DALLAS – Utah Valley senior pitcher Eli Sundquist was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watchlist on Wednesday. He is one of 76 pitchers named to the watchlist, with the award given annually to the nation's best college relief pitcher.
 
"Eli has arrived on our campus and inspired an immediate impact on our program.  His stuff as a pitcher is electric, and he is an incredible teammate.  We are excited to have the ball in his hands at the end of games this season!" said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.
 
Sundquist transferred to Utah Valley this year after three successful seasons on the hill for South Dakota State. He is coming off his best overall, where he established career-highs in innings pitched (28.1) and held hitters to a .163 batting average. The right-hander added 47 of his career 100 strikeouts while pitching for the Jackrabbits in 2023.
 
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy 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-America team, rookie hitter and pitcher of the year, Division I, II and III Dick Howser Trophy National Players and Pitchers of the Week and Division II and III National Players and Pitchers of the Year.
 
The Wolverines will open the 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 16, at 3:00 p.m. MT against the CSUN Matadors. The Matadors were picked to finish fifth in the Big West. The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon, MT. UVU is scheduled to wrap up opening week on Monday, Feb. 19, at 3:00 p.m. MT against UC Riverside.