Baseball Southern Conference

Samford Baseball Duo Lands on Watch Lists

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior shortstop Tyler Filliben was named to the watch list for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award and junior pitcher Andres Gracia was named to the Pitcher of the Year watch list when the College Baseball Hall of Fame released the lists on Friday.

The Brooks Wallace Award, sponsored by Mizuno, recognizes the nation's top shortstop. It, along with the Pitcher of the Year Award, sponsored by Diamond, will be presented during the National College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual Night of Champions on June 28 in Lubbock, Texas.

Filliben is the only Southern Conference player named to the Brooks Wallace Award list, and he is one of just two players from Alabama schools to make the watch list.

Filliben is having an outstanding season so far as a junior. He leads the team in hitting (.338), hits (51), slugging percentage (.603), RBIs (39), runs scored (40), total bases (91) and assists (126), and he is tied for the team lead in home runs (eight).

Earlier this season, Filliben had a team-high 16-game hit streak, and he reached base in 22 straight games, as well. In the Southern Conference, Filliben ranks second in total bases and runs scored. He is also tied for second in the league in RBIs, and he ranks third in the league in slugging percentage, tied for third in triples and tied for fifth in home runs.

In 24 2/3 innings of work so far this season, Gracia has yet to give up an earned run. He leads the Southern Conference and is tied for fifth in the nation with 11 saves. Gracia has a record of 2-0 and has recorded 25 strikeouts while allowing just six walks. Opposing batters are hitting just .193 against Gracia.

Gracia is one of 47 pitchers named to the Pitcher of the Year Award watch list. He is the only Southern Conference pitcher on the list, and he is one of just three players from Alabama schools to make the list.

The Bulldogs will play host to Western Carolina in a key Southern Conference series this weekend at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The teams will play Friday at 6 p.m. CT, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.