DALLAS — Oral Roberts University baseball team closer Cade Denton was named the 2023 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year and coach Ryan Folmar was tabbed the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year as announced by the organization on Friday.

Denton is the first player in program and Summit League history to earn the Stopper of the Year Award, which is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.

The junior, an NCBWA first-team All-American, is currently tied for the national lead in saves with 15, matching the program single- season record. The Rowlett, Texas, native holds a 1.85 earned-run average heading into the 2023 College World Series in 58.1 innings of work and has struck out 78. The Summit League Pitcher of the Year, who is only the fourth player in program history with 20-plus career saves (22), has logged 25 scoreless appearances on the season.

Folmar became the program’s and Summit League’s first NCBWA National Coach of the Year after leading the Golden Eagles to a 5213 record and their second CWS appearance. The 52 wins are tied for the program record (DIera). In his 11th season at the helm of ORU, Folmar, the Summit League Coach of the Year, guided the Golden Eagles to their 30th NCAA Regional appearance and sixth of his tenure.

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 the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.