Bacura Named to the 2026 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
4/23/2026 12:09:00 PM | Baseball
DALLAS, Texas – Nick Bacura, a relief pitcher for the University of San Francisco baseball team, has been named to the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Watch List, announced by the organization on Wednesday.
In his first season on the Hilltop, Bacura has established himself as one of the best closers in the West Coast Conference, recording an impressive 3.24 earned run average, with 17 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched. His seven saves in 15 appearances out of the bullpen rank second in the league, one behind Portland's Alex Via, who was also named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List.
Twenty-one conferences are represented on the list, with the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference leading the way with eight. The Big 12 Conference follows with six, while the Atlantic Coast Conference has five, and the American and Sun Belt each have four. Other multiple-selection leagues included: the Atlantic Sun Conference (3), Big West (2), Conference USA (3), Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference (2), Mid-American Conference (2), Ohio Valley Conference (2), and the West Coast Conference (3).
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 3, with the winner being named on Friday, June 12, at the 2026 Men's College World Series.
The full 2026 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List can be viewed here.
For updates and more information on the San Francisco baseball program, follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.
In his first season on the Hilltop, Bacura has established himself as one of the best closers in the West Coast Conference, recording an impressive 3.24 earned run average, with 17 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched. His seven saves in 15 appearances out of the bullpen rank second in the league, one behind Portland's Alex Via, who was also named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List.
Twenty-one conferences are represented on the list, with the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference leading the way with eight. The Big 12 Conference follows with six, while the Atlantic Coast Conference has five, and the American and Sun Belt each have four. Other multiple-selection leagues included: the Atlantic Sun Conference (3), Big West (2), Conference USA (3), Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference (2), Mid-American Conference (2), Ohio Valley Conference (2), and the West Coast Conference (3).
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 3, with the winner being named on Friday, June 12, at the 2026 Men's College World Series.
The full 2026 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List can be viewed here.
For updates and more information on the San Francisco baseball program, follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballBSB | USF vs. San Diego Highlights (Game 2)
Saturday, April 11
USF | USF vs. San Diego w/ Rob DiToma, Jackson Nystrom, Quentin Pohorski (Game 2)
Saturday, April 11
BSB | USF vs. California Highlights
Tuesday, April 07
USF | USF vs. California Postgame w/ Rob DiToma
Tuesday, April 07
