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Kevin Kopps named NCBWA Pitcher of the Month for May

Kopps becomes the first player in the six-year history of the NCBWA monthly awards to win in back-to-back months.
Credit: Michael Wade/SEC
2021 SEC Baseball Tournament - Game 12: #4 Vanderbilt vs #31 Arkansas

SAN ANTONIO — The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has tabbed Sam Houston outfielder Jack Rogers its National Player of the Month and Arkansas right-handed reliever Kevin Kopps its National Pitcher of the Month for May, it was announced on Monday.

Rogers, a native of Spring, Texas, cranked eight homers over 19 games during May, batting .466 (34-for-73) with six doubles, one triple, eight homers and 22 RBI. The junior outfielder had six doubles, one triple, owning 11 walks, with a .904 slugging and a .552 on-base percentage, stealing five bags. Rogers finished the 2021 season hitting .367 (76-for-207) with 49 runs, 18 doubles, one triple, 16 homers and 55 RBI, stealing 12 bases.

Kopps becomes the first player in the six-year history of the NCBWA monthly awards to win in back-to-back months. The fifth-year senior out of Sugar Land, Texas, had a 4-0 record and a 0.67 ERA over nine relief outings in May. He saved four games, worked 27 innings, allowing just two runs and four walks, striking out 34. The NCAA leader in ERA with a 0.81 mark, Kopps has gone 10-0 over 28 outings, saving 10 games. He has worked 66.1 innings and allowed only 37 hits – a .161 opponent average – walking 15 and striking out 105. Kopps led the Razorbacks to the No. 1 national seed and the Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship, earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors from the league coaches.

This marks the sixth consecutive year that the NCBWA has honored a player and pitcher of the month. Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit ncbwa.com.

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