Blair and Zayac Chosen National Pitcher of the Year Semifinalists
4/22/2026 1:55:00 PM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – Liberty right-handers Ben Blair and Bradley Zayac are two of college baseball's top 43 pitchers selected as semifinalists for the 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Award. The semifinalists were announced by the College Baseball Foundation this afternoon.
Blair, who appeared on the National Pitcher of the Year Watchlist for the second time earlier this season, has posted a 6-2 record with a 2.54 ERA over 60 1/3 innings. In 10 starts, he has struck out 78 and walked seven, while holding opponents to a .194 batting average. The Gretna, Va., native also has a stellar 11.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Blair enters the week among the national leaders in several categories. The junior is second in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio and is fourth with a 0.83 WHIP. He is also among the national leaders in strikeouts (19th) and walks allowed per nine innings (6th).
The right-hander, who has already been named the CUSA Pitcher of the Week three times this season (Feb. 16, March 2 & March 23), leads the conference in wins and opponent batting average. He is second in CUSA in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts and fewest walks issued.
Blair was one of 45 of the nation's top amateur baseball players named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball earlier this month. He is only the second Liberty player to be named to the watch list, as outfielder D.J. Artis was named to the award's midseason list in 2017.
Meanwhile, Zayac has been a steady addition to the Flames' pitching staff in 2026. The sophomore enters the week with a 5-0 record and a 2.65 ERA over 54 1/3 innings. In 10 games, nine starts, the right-hander has struck out 48 and walked nine. The Chesapeake, Va., native has held opponents to a .230 batting average and also sports a 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Currently, Zayac is 32nd in the country with 0.99 WHIP. He is among the conference leaders in ERA (3rd), wins (4th), innings pitched (5th), strikeouts (8th), opponent batting average (7th), runs allowed (tied - 5th) and fewest walks issued (3rd).
Blair, Zayac and the rest of the Flames travel to Charlottesville, Va., for a contest against the No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers this evening. Game time at Disharoon Park is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Blair, who appeared on the National Pitcher of the Year Watchlist for the second time earlier this season, has posted a 6-2 record with a 2.54 ERA over 60 1/3 innings. In 10 starts, he has struck out 78 and walked seven, while holding opponents to a .194 batting average. The Gretna, Va., native also has a stellar 11.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Blair enters the week among the national leaders in several categories. The junior is second in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio and is fourth with a 0.83 WHIP. He is also among the national leaders in strikeouts (19th) and walks allowed per nine innings (6th).
The right-hander, who has already been named the CUSA Pitcher of the Week three times this season (Feb. 16, March 2 & March 23), leads the conference in wins and opponent batting average. He is second in CUSA in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts and fewest walks issued.
Blair was one of 45 of the nation's top amateur baseball players named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball earlier this month. He is only the second Liberty player to be named to the watch list, as outfielder D.J. Artis was named to the award's midseason list in 2017.
Meanwhile, Zayac has been a steady addition to the Flames' pitching staff in 2026. The sophomore enters the week with a 5-0 record and a 2.65 ERA over 54 1/3 innings. In 10 games, nine starts, the right-hander has struck out 48 and walked nine. The Chesapeake, Va., native has held opponents to a .230 batting average and also sports a 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Currently, Zayac is 32nd in the country with 0.99 WHIP. He is among the conference leaders in ERA (3rd), wins (4th), innings pitched (5th), strikeouts (8th), opponent batting average (7th), runs allowed (tied - 5th) and fewest walks issued (3rd).
Blair, Zayac and the rest of the Flames travel to Charlottesville, Va., for a contest against the No. 10 Virginia Cavaliers this evening. Game time at Disharoon Park is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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