Texas’ Chance Ruffin has been selected as one of the five finalists for the the sixth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday.

The junior right-hander joins a list that includes current NCAA saves leaders Kevin Arico of Virginia and Neil Holland of Louisville, along with Chris Dennis of Portland and Jordan Swagerty of Arizona State.

Ruffin, a Golden Spikes semifinalist, leads the nation with a 0.77 ERA. The Austin, Texas-native has notched a league-leading 13 saves with a 6-1 record in 34 appearances. He has given up just five earned runs on 36 hits, while striking out 89 in 58.1 innings.

The award will be given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.

More than 50 of the nation’s top collegiate relief pitchers were included in the selection process for this year’s NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, beginning with initial preseason nominations by baseball contacts at NCAA Division I schools.

The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced on Saturday, June 19, the opening day of the 2009 College World Series.
 
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006, Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007, Georgia’s Joshua Fields topping the field in 2008 and San Diego State’s Addison Reed grabbing the honor last season.
 
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.