April 24, 2012

2012 Initial Watch List

LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 27 East Carolina's Kevin Brandt and Tyler Joyner are two of 51 college pitchers that are featured on the initial Pitcher-of-the-Year Watch List, presented by the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday night.

Brandt, a native of Fuquay Varina, N.C., owns a 5-3 record with a 1.96 ERA, which ranks third in Conference USA (all games) and 41st nationally. The southpaw also ranks among the league leaders in innings pitched (1st/69.0), pickoffs (t-1st/4), wins (t-5th/5), earned runs (6th/15), runs allowed (t-8th/21), opposing batting average (7th/.232) and strikeouts (t-10th/44).

In his last outing against No. 7 Rice, Brandt suffered his third loss of the season and second when tossing a complete game - other was at then No. 19 UCF. He allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits with one strikeout and a pair of walks. Of the six hits the Owls recorded, Brandt allowed just one extra base hit - a solo home run by Jeremy Rathjen in the sixth inning. Brandt recorded his ninth quality start in 10 games this season to lead the club, and after giving up a pair of runs in the first frame on two hits, he settled down retiring 20 of his final 27 batters and allowed just two runners after the first to reach second base.

Joyner, who enters his first season as part of ECU's weekend rotation, is 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA in 10 games (nine starts). The southpaw from Rocky Mount, N.C. shares the team lead in strikeouts (44) with Brandt and has walked just nine batters in 61.2 innings. Against Rice, he scattered five hits and allowed one run (earned) in 5.2 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Joyner retired 11 of his last 13 batters faced before turning the ball over to the bullpen.

The winner of the Pitcher-of-the-Year Award will be announced on June 30 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the annual College Baseball Night of Champions. The event features the presentation of numerous awards and the induction ceremony for this year's Hall of Fame class.