Jensen Highlights Stopper of the Year Watch List

Dallas ? University of Nebraska closer Brett Jensen (Eagle Grove, Iowa) was one of 30 players on the initial watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award released Thursday afternoon.

This is the second major award watch list for Jensen, as he was named to the Roger Clemens Award Watch list last month. Last season, Jensen set a school record with 16 saves, as he posted a 2-5 record with a 1.96 ERA in 33 games. He was 16-of-17 in save chances in 2005, while his total ranked third nationally. Jensen, who posted a 46-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46 innings of work, is the nation’s returning leader in saves from a year ago.

Tyler Chambliss of Florida State returns with 15 from ’05, while Casey Lambert (Virginia), Kevin Gunderson (Oregon State) and Paul Koss (USC) each tallied 14. A total of 14 pitchers that appear on the 2006 watch list finished last season with 10 or more saves.

The 2006 watch list represents 13 conferences, led by five players from the Atlantic Coast, and four from the Big 12. The Conference USA, Missouri Valley, Pac-10, and Southeastern Conference each have three players represented, while the Atlantic 10 and Big West both have two players representing their leagues. The Atlantic Sun, Big Ten, Big East, Northeast, and Patriot each have one player.

The Huskers, who are ranked as high as fourth in the preseason national polls, open the 2006 campaign two weeks from today, as they travel to Charleston Southern to begin a four-game trip through South Carolina.

 

-- Huskers --