By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
TUCSON, Ariz. – Collegiate Baseball Newspaper revealed its annual Freshman All-American team today and University of Tennessee at Martin left-handed pitcher Zach Wager was one of 50 names on the prestigious list.
Wager becomes the eighth Skyhawk – and first pitcher – in school history to achieve this honor. The Columbus, Ind. native is one of just 12 pitchers and seven relievers to receive 2023 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American status.
Today’s announcement continues an award-filled summer for Wager, who was additionally named UT Martin’s first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year while being voted to the All-OVC second team and OVC All-Freshman squads a little over two weeks ago.
A 6-1, 170-pounder, Wager’s 2.44 ERA this past spring was the best of any Skyhawk pitcher with at least 40 innings pitched in the program’s NCAA Division I Era (since 1993). He ranked sixth in the OVC with four saves (the eighth-highest total in school history) and seventh with 10 games finished. Overall, he made a team-high 22 appearances, posting a 2-1 record with a 40:20 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .252 opponent batting average over 44.1 innings of work.
Wager was even better in league play, going 2-0 with a pair of saves and a miniscule 1.08 ERA over nine appearances. He was responsible for a 1.08 WHIP and allowed just one extra-base hit as opponents hit a lowly .228 against him in 16.2 frames.
After starting five of the first seven games of his collegiate career, each of Wager’s final 15 appearances came out of the bullpen. He did not allow an earned run in 14 of his 22 appearances, including a pair of four-inning starts (against Toledo on March 8, at Alabama A&M on March 21). From March 14 through May 13, the rookie southpaw pitched to a remarkable 0.90 ERA over 30 innings.
Each of his Wager’s two wins and four saves came during a 10-game span from April 19 through May 19. He earned his first career victory with 1.2 shutout innings against eventual OVC regular season champion Morehead State on April 28 and added another win two days later against the same Eagles squad. He also notched saves against Murray State (April 19), a pair of saves against two-time defending OVC champion Southeast Missouri (May 12-13) and at Illinois (May 19).
Wager’s success directly correlated to one of the best Skyhawk seasons at the NCAA Division I level. Behind a program-record 14 OVC victories, UT Martin placed third in the league standings for its highest finish in school history. Overall, the Skyhawks generated their fourth-highest win total in their Division I Era, shattering numerous school records along the way under head coach Ryan Jenkins.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information