LUBBOCK, Texas – Indiana State junior starting pitcher Sean Manaea was one of 41 pitchers from around the nation named to the National Pitcher of the Year Watch List by the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Manaea is one of two representatives from the Missouri Valley Conference, as the ISU southpaw is joined on the prestigious list by Missouri State's Nick Petree. The CBHOF Pitcher of the Year award is college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award and is given annually to the nation's top collegiate pitcher. Previous winners include: Stephen Strasburg (2009), Alex Wimmers (2010), Trevor Bauer (2011) and Mark Appel (2012).

Manaea has posted a 5-2 record and a 1.21 ERA this season, fanning 63 batters in 52 innings on the mound while allowing just 33 hits, 17 walks and seven earned runs in eight starts. The ISU junior has struck out at least eight batters in six of his eight outings, including a season-high of 10 Ks in six shutout innings against College of Charleston on February 22.

The Wanatah, Ind., native struck out eight batters this past Saturday against #30 Creighton, passing Mitch Stetter (254 – 2000-03) for fifth place on Indiana State's career strikeout list. Manaea enters the week with 260 strikeouts for his career, 39 behind record holder Casey Whitten (299 – 1991-93).

The Sycamores close out their six-game homestand this week against Butler (Tuesday) and SIU Edwardsville (Wednesday) before hitting the road for the final time in MVC play this weekend at Illinois State.