Baxendale nominee for premier player award
By: Adam Alter
Updated: May 25, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas junior right handed pitcher DJ Baxendale is one of 25 college baseball players that are in contention to be named the 2012 Premier Player of College Baseball.
Razorback fans can go online and vote for Baxendale at www.premierplayers.com until May 31st. The players with the five highest vote totals will be announced on May 31st and placed into a new poll for the months of June and July. The winner of the award will be announced in July.
A native of Jacksonville, Ark., Baxendale has started 16 games this season and has a 7-4 record with a 3.02 ERA. In 86.1 innings, Baxendale has struck out 79 batters, while holding the opposition to a .235 batting average. In SEC play, Baxendale made 10 starts and posted a 2-3 record with a 3.39 ERA. The right hander has saved his best starts for the second half of the season. In his last eight starts, Baxendale has a 1.68 ERA and opposing hitters are batting just .194 against him. Baxendale has victories this season over Villanova, Valparaiso, BYU, Texas, Binghamton, Georgia and Tennessee.
For his career, Baxendale has pitched in 64 games, which is tied for the seventh most appearances in school history. He has a 17-8 career record with 10 saves and a 2.64 ERA. Baxendale's ERA is the sixth lowest in school annals, while his 10 saves are tied for eighth most in Arkansas history.
The Arkansas baseball team will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Monday when the 64-team field is announced. The selection show is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday and will be televised by ESPNU.
