Two Hawkeye Pitchers Receive Preseason Recognition

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Two members of the Iowa baseball pitching staff, Jarred Hippen and Kevin Lee, have received preseason recognition.

Hippen, a starter from Rock Falls, Ill., was named College Baseball Daily’s Preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. Hippen, a junior, started 15 games in 2010 en route to second team All-Big Ten honors. He finished 6-4 and led the team with a 3.71 ERA and 99.1 innings pitched. The left-hander also tossed a Big Ten-best four complete conference games and was recognized on the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.

Lee was named to the watch list for the annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. He was one of three Big Ten closers named to the list.

Lee, a senior righty hailing from Oak Lawn, Ill., notched a school-record 13 saves last year. He appeared in 21 games, winning two of them, while recording a 5.75 ERA. Lee tallied 14 strikeouts in 20.1 innings last year. Lee came out of the ninth with a win in every save opportunity he was given.

Iowa Baseball Media Day will be held Thursday, Feb. 10 in the UI Bubble.

The Hawkeyes open the 2011 season at the Big East/Big Ten Challenge, Feb. 18-20, in Tampa, Fla.