Perez Named a Gregg Olson Award Semifinalist - GoUSFBulls.com?Official Athletics Web Site of the University of South Florida
TAMPA, JUNE 5, 2017 – The University of South Florida baseball team's sophomore lefty Andrew Perez has been named a 2017 Gregg Olson Award semifinalist, as announced Monday.
Perez (Orlando) slipped into the closer role at the beginning of the season and was one of USF's top options out of the bullpen. The hard-throwing lefthander went 6-3 on the year with a 2.72 ERA in 27 appearances. He recorded a team-high six saves and struck out 52 batters in 39.2 innings while allowing an opponent batting average of .185.
One of 25 semifinalists, Perez is the only member from the American Athletic Conference and only member from a program in the state of Florida.
The Olson Award, presented by Toolshed Sports, has been developed to honor college baseball's success stories and showcase players who have raised the level of their game through hard work, strength of mind and determination. Eligible players are those who are omitted from major publication's preseason All American prognostications. By the end of the season, their on-the-field performance demonstrates that they are among the top amateur baseball players in the nation.
Finalists will be announced during Super Regional action. The winner of the 2017 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Neb. during the College World Series which is to be held at TD Ameritrade Park.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball team is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. Under the guidance of head coach Mark Kingston, the Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and USF followed that success with a 42-19 2017 campaign and second regional trip in three years. The Bulls earned just their second and third wins over top-five teams with a 4-2 victory against then-No. 3 Florida State on Feb. 21 and 15-10 win at then-No. 5 Florida on May 9. The win over FSU was part of the best start in program history thanks to a 19-game winning streak, the second-longest in USF Baseball records. USF reached the 40-win mark for the first time since 1996 and entered the top-25 in the major collegiate baseball polls on May 1 for the first time since 2013.
The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 12 NCAA appearances. Follow the baseball team on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram), visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information, and purchase tickets for upcoming games at USFBullsTix.com. For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
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