LUBBOCK, Texas – FGCU pitcher Mason Studstill (Titusville, FL/Rockledge HS/Eastern Florida State) was named to the College Baseball Foundation's 2019 Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List, as released by the organization on Wednesday.

"Mason has done a wonderful job for us so far this season," head coach Dave Tollett said. "What a great honor for him to be considered one of the top pitchers in the country. We hope that he continues with his success. We're excited for him."

Given annually to the nation's top hurler, the Pitcher of the Year Award is college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award and honored its first arm in 2009. Previous honorees include Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State, Washington Nationals), Jon Gray (Oklahoma, Colorado Rockies) and Carson Fulmer (Vanderbilt, Chicago White Sox).
 
Studstill, who has established himself as the Eagles' Friday night starter, has been dominant on the mound this season. The junior ranks third in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings, giving up just 4.18 on average. He also checks into the country's top 30 in earned run average (1.45, 13th), WHIP (.86, 17th) and strikeouts (72, 29th).
 
In his first season suiting up for the Green and Blue, Studstill is already on track to establish himself in the FGCU record books. He averages 11.57 strikeouts per nine innings, which is the third-highest single season average, and is 11 Ks away from registering on top 10 single season list. Studstill's current ERA would stand alone at second place in the FGCU standings and his opponents' batting average (.139) would be the lowest in Eagle history.
 
The watch list released by the College Baseball Foundation features 80 pitchers from across the nation, over half of which come from Power 5 schools. Studstill and Liberty junior Andrew McInvale are the only two arms from the ASUN named to the list. 

The College Baseball Foundation was established in 2009 as an entity to create the National College Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame. Every year, the foundation hosts the Night of Champions, a televised event at the end of July that features the annual Hall of Fame inductions and the presentation of the collegiate baseball awards.

All-Time Pitcher of the Year Award Winners
2009 – Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State)
2010 – Alex Wimmers (Ohio State)
2011 – Trevor Bauer (UCLA)
2012 – Mark Appel (Stanford)
2013 – Jonathan Gray (Oklahoma)
2014 – Aaron Nola (LSU)
2015 – Carson Fulmer (Vanderbilt)
2016 – Eric Lauer (Kent State)
2017 – Steven Gingery (Texas Tech)
2018 – Luke Heimlich (Oregon State)

WE'VE GOT YOUR SEAT
Experience FGCU Baseball and Softball this season. The following ticket opportunities are on sale now:
Group Sales
Bring your group of 15 or more to an FGCU Baseball or Softball game. All group tickets include your choice of concessions or an FGCU hat ($15 value), in-game group recognition and more. For more information on group outings, click HERE or call 239-590-7145.
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets are available for all remaining home games. Adult tickets are $7 each. Discounted tickets are available for current or former Military and Youth ages 3-15 for just $5 each. Baseball and Softball Frequent Flyer Cards allow multiple entries for more than 50 percent off the adult rate. Choose 34 baseball entries for $105 or 17 softball entries for $55. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.

FOLLOW ALONG
For constant news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.con/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 590-350-3 overall record (.628) and a 190-104 (.646) record in the ASUN. He is the only head coach in the program's history and led the program to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. He is a four-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four ASUN Regular Season Championships and one ASUN Tournament Championship. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions, including as high as No. 9 in the country in 2017, and has coached 54 all-conference selections, 31 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 15 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, three ASUN Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one seven-time MLB All-Star.
 
5X CHAMPS
The 2017 season was a magical one for the Green and Blue that ended in the program's first Division I NCAA Championship tournament berth. The Eagles ended the year 43-20, which included a midweek sweep over No. 2 Florida, single wins over No. 1 Florida State, Miami, and a three-game sweep at UNC Wilmington. The wins over Miami, FSU, and UF marked the first time FGCU defeated all three programs in the same season.
 
Reaching as high as No. 9 in the polls, the highest of any program at FGCU, the Eagles struggled in April but bounced back to finish third in the ASUN. During the ASUN Championship, FGCU won four games in a span of 29 hours for their first tournament crown.
 
The Green and Blue earned the No. 2 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional, defeating Michigan 10-6 before losses to Davidson and North Carolina ended their season. The tournament title added to FGCU's four regular season crowns.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 76 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 35 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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