In the first of what is hopefully the first of many Northeast Conference awards for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team, starting pitcher Evan Nibblett was named the NEC Pitcher of the Week for Week Two on Tuesday, February 28 for his start against visiting Quinnipiac University.
“I’m not afraid to pitch to contact because I trust the guys around me,” Nibblett said. “The changeup was working really well this weekend and that’s why I was successful – I was able to locate with the fastball and then get outs with the changeup.”
The graduate student put together eight innings of one-run ball against Quinnipiac in a hard luck 3-0 loss for the Hawks on Sunday (February 26). Nibblett threw seven strikeouts to no walks and six hits against the Bobcats.
“He threw outstanding,” head coach Brian Hollamon said. “He hit his spots, really got ahead of hitters and made some great pitches in great spots.”
On the season, Nibblett has pitched 14 innings over two starts to a 3.21 ERA with eight strikeouts and two walks. He currently leads the NEC in innings pitched, sits third in ERA for qualified starters and is second in walks-per-nine with 1.29, behind fellow Seaford, Delaware native Noah Covington.
“Every time he toes the rubber we’re expecting to win,” Hollamon said. “I have no doubt about what he’s going to give us when he toes the rubber – he’s a strike thrower, he competes, he’s everything you want in a starter.”
The Hawks are back in action starting Friday (March 3), hosting Manhattan College and Lehigh University for a series of games through Sunday afternoon.