GREGG OLSON AWARD NEWS

UC IRVINE'S SAM MOORE AWARDED 2014 GREGG OLSON AWARD

UC Irvine junior relief pitcherSam Moore as been named the winner of the 2014Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports. The honor is given to college baseball’s breakout player of the year. The award will be presented to a top amateur baseball player who elevates his game to an elite level throughout the season.

His first two seasons on the mound at UCI, Moore had a 5.52 ERA in 16 total appearances. This year the junior hurler emerged to be one of the best closers in the college game, earning 23 saves to establish new record both for UC Irvine as well as the Big West. If Moore is able to earn another save in Omaha he'll tie the NCAA single season record. Moore also a complied a 1.88 ERA and struckout 38 strikeouts in 43 innings.

In addition to winning the Olson Award, Moore earned a spot on the Collegiate Baseball All-America second team and was an All-Big West Conference first-team member. He was also selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2014 Major League First-Year Player draft.

Moore edged remarkable performances by a number of players which included Will Allen of Mississippi, Nathan Kirby of Virginia, Jacob Lindgren of Mississippi State and Tyler Davis of Washington.

The award is named after former Auburn pitching great and two-time All American Gregg Olson. After a freshman season at Auburn filled with only mixed success, Olson became one of the top collegiate players in the nation during an outstanding, unprecedented sophomore season. Despite being omitted from any preseason All American lists, Olson went on to lead the entire nation in ERA with a 1.26 mark and compiled an incredible 11-1 record with 10 saves for the Tigers. Following a summer pitching for the USA National Team where he lead the club in strikeouts, Olson returned to Auburn for another spectacular season. He led the SEC with a 2.00 ERA and amassed a triple-digit strikeout total, issuing 113 K’s in only 72 innings with only 27 walks. He finished his collegiate career with back-to-back First Team All American honors, a 25-7 record, 3.03 ERA, 20 saves, 271 strikeouts and redefined the way college coaches used their top pitcher.