CWS Tournament Central
OMAHA, Neb. --- Closer Sam Moore was named the Gregg Olson Award winner, an honor bestowed on college baseball's "Breakout Player of the Year."
"Mr. Olson called to tell me I had won," said Moore. "It was a great and a humbling experience to talk to the man himself and this is a rewarding accomplishment. Having this sort of turn-around personally, along with the team's success this year speaks to how well we've done as a program."
The award is named after former Auburn Tiger star pitcher Gregg Olson, who became one of the top collegiate players in the nation after an initial season filled with only mixed success. Olson went on to become a two-time All American, first round draft pick, American League Rookie of the Year and MLB All Star. Like Olson, these players have elevated their game to an elite level and in many instances their team has mirrored their success as a direct result.
Moore saw limited action in his first two seasons with the Anteaters. The right-hander made a combined 16 appearances with 11 strikeouts in 14.2 innings of work to go along with a 5.52 ERA.
In 2014, he emerged as the team's closer, vaulting out to a nation-leading 23 saves, one shy of the NCAA single-season record. Moore, who erased the UC Irvine and Big West single-season save marks, earlier this year, owns a 1.88 ERA. He has posted 38 strikeouts in 43 innings while surrendering just nine earned runs in 31 appearances. The junior earned a spot on the Collegiate Baseball "Louisville Slugger" All-America second team and was received an All-Big West Conference first-team nod. He was also selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2014 Major League First-Year Player draft.
Moore and the Anteaters are making the program's second College World Series appearance. After logging a come-from-behind win against Texas, UCI will play Vanderbilt in the winner's bracket tonight at 5:00 p.m. (PT)/7:00 p.m. (CT).
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