UCI pitcher Pettis added to stopper watch list

UC Irvine sophomore closer Eric Pettis, who entered the three-game series with UC Riverside that began Friday leading the Big West Conference with eight saves, has been named to the midseason watch list for the 2008 Stopper of the Year award, presented by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn.

Pettis, a right-hander who was 3-0 with a 1.19 earned-run average through Thursday, had fanned 19 in 22 2/3 innings this season. He was holding opponents to a .203 batting average and he was 7-0 in his collegiate career.

The watch list will be pared to five candidates at the end of the regular season and those candidates will be announced May 28. The winner will be announced June 4.

— From staff reports