The University of Akron Athletics
LaRocca Named to Olerud Award Watch List
April 23 | Baseball
Follow Zips Baseball on Twitter (@ZipsBB) and Facebook
View Full 2015 Olerud Award Watch List Release
LUBBOCK, Texas – Redshirt senior infielder and right-handed pitcher Matt LaRocca (Stony Brook, N.Y.) is one of 36 players named to the watch list for the 2015 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, presented by the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
On the mound, LaRocca leads Akron with seven saves this season after making 13 appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander has tossed 12.2 innings of relief and has fanned 20 batters while issuing just two walks. He has allowed 11 hits and six runs, five earned, and has accrued a 3.55 ERA.
LaRocca, the only Mid-American Conference player on the Olerud Award watch list, has started 18 games at first base and seven at the hot corner. Offensively, the redshirt senior is batting .250 (24-of-96) with 14 runs scored and 11 RBI. He has also launched two homers.
The Olerud Award is named for the former Washington State University standout who achieved success both as a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s, and who was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. The award will be presented as part of the Hall of Fame's Night of Champions celebration, June 28-29 in Lubbock.
LaRocca and the Zips (19-19, 9-6 MAC) are back in action this weekend when they travel to take on Ohio (23-15, 8-7 MAC) in a three-game series at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens, Ohio. The series will begin with a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday, April 24.
