Wake Forest Athletics
Lowder Named Finalist for Pitcher of the Year Award
6/2/2022 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
Lowder, the 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year, was selected as one of five finalists for the prestigious award given to the top collegiate pitcher in the nation.
LUBBOCK, Texas - Wake Forest baseball's Rhett Lowder was named one of five finalists for the 2022 Pitcher of the Year Award, as announced by the College Baseball Foundation Thursday morning.
Lowder was the only pitcher in the ACC to be named a finalist for the prestigious award given to the top collegiate pitcher in the nation, joining Chase Dolander (Tennessee), Pete Hansen (Texas), Connor Hjerpe (Oregon State) and Drew Thorpe (Cal Poly). The winner of the 2022 Pitcher of the Year Award will be announced on Thursday, June 16.
Additionally, Lowder is the first Demon Deacon to be named a finalist for the award since its creation in 2009.
"This is an exciting group of finalists that all exemplify exactly what this award is about," Chris Snead, Pitcher of the Year Award co-chair said. "Each is talented in their own right and a leader on their respective teams."
On May 23, Lowder was named the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, the first Demon Deacon to win the award in program history, and a First Team All-ACC selection.
Lowder became just the fifth pitcher in program history and the first since 2002 to reach 11 victories in a season following Wake Forest's 16-3 victory over Miami in the ACC Tournament.
Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Lowder is just one of four pitchers in the entire nation with 11 wins this season.
In addition to leading the conference in victories, Lowder ranks second in ERA (2.61), second in innings pitched (93) and third in strikeouts (98). He is the only hurler in the ACC to rank in the top three of each category.
Additionally, Lowder ranks in the top 10 in WHIP (fourth), walks allowed per nine innings (seventh) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (seventh) in the conference.
In conference play, Lowder held the lowest ERA (2.60) and pitched the most innings (65.2) in addition to the second-most victories (six) and fourth-most Ks (63).
In 10 of his 15 starts this season, Lowder has pitched at least six innings while allowing no more than three earned runs in any appearance. Additionally, Lowder has walked one or less batters in nine starts.
The sophomore earned ACC and Perfect Game Pitcher of the Week honors after Lowder tossed the first complete game by a Demon Deacon since 2017 on just 87 pitches on May 19, striking out six batters while allowing just five hits and no walks to open Wake Forest's first series sweep over NC State in Raleigh.
Follow The Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
