DURHAM, N.C. — Arizona Baseball closer Tony Pluta has been selected as one of 13 finalists for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, the organization announced today.

The award, in its 20th year, is given annually to the nation's top Division I relief pitcher. Pluta is the first Arizona player to be honored as a finalist.

Pluta, a junior right-hander, has tallied 13 saves this year, a mark that ties the Arizona single-season record, leads the Big 12 Conference, and ranks tied for seventh nationally. The Illinois native boasts a minuscule 1.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .185 batting average. Pluta has appeared in 26 games for the Wildcats this season and has allowed runs in only two of those outings.

As the Wildcats closer he has punctuated numerous highlight wins for the program this season, including their win over then No. 1 ranked Texas A&M in February and their victory in the Big 12 Championship title game. 

A standout student-athlete, Pluta has excelled both on the field and in the classroom during his time as a Wildcat. He was recently selected to the CSC Academic All-District team for the second time in his career and last month was named the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, making him the first player in program history to earn the honor.

Pluta and the Wildcats are back in action this Friday, June 6 to kick off the Chapel Hill Super Regional against No. 1 North Carolina. First pitches on Friday and Saturday are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. MST on ESPN2.