Thanks to a team-leading 2.05 ERA and eight saves as NIU’s closer this season, Kyle Glancy was named to the mid-season Stopper of the Year watch list by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) late last week.

The junior is the first NIU pitcher to be mentioned on the list since Matt German was named a finalist for the award in 2007. German finished his career as NIU’s career saves leader.

Glancy, one of three Mid-American Conference pitchers to be named to the mid-season watch list, was third in the MAC and 20th in the nation in saves as of April 17. The pitcher with the most saves in the country at the end of the regular season is named a finalist to be the Stopper of the Year, in addition to four other top relievers chosen by the NCBWA. The winner is chosen by the NCBWA before the start of the College World Series.

“It’s a great recognition for Kyle,” said NIU head coach Ed Mathey. “The NCBWA is a pretty well-recognized organization. For Kyle to be in the same category of Matt German… that’s great because Matt did a lot of great things for us.”

Mathey decided before the season to switch Glancy from being a middle reliever/spot starter to a candidate for the Huskies’ closing duties. The decision was not without risk, as Glancy had a career 8.21 ERA in 72.1 innings coming into 2011.

To overcome his struggles as an underclassman, Glancy decided to just sit back and watch the upperclassmen work.

“I think after watching Andy Deain and other veterans I really took mental notes,” Glancy said. “I was able to learn from my mistakes and the results are there, mixed in with a little luck. But it’s been a lot of fun.”

Early in the season, Glancy couldn’t even get a chance to prove his worth, as the Huskies went 0-10 to start the season. It wasn’t until March 18 against Illinois that Glancy recorded his first save. That one outing started a streak of eight consecutive saves that didn’t end until last Sunday when the right-hander gave up a 7-6 lead to Toledo in the top of the eighth inning.

Rather than crediting Glancy for the development of a particular pitch, Mathey points to the right-hander’s improved command as the biggest reason for his turnaround.

“He has better command of his arsenal,” said Mathey of Glancy’s 10 walks and 17 strikeouts in 2011. “He always had a good arm, but he’s just pitching and getting ahead in counts this year, and that’s the biggest difference.”

Glancy primarily throws a two-seam fastball and a slider, but uses a cut fastball as his out pitch in two-strike counts. With each pitch seemingly working for the junior, Mathey doesn’t have to worry about the often elusive last three outs of a game.

“It’s great to have somebody back there to get you outs when you need them,” Mathey said. “Not only is it good for the guys to see him come out of the bullpen, but even the pitchers before him don’t have to worry about making a mistake, because they know he’s behind them.”