Austin Hubbard was named to the sixth annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award Watch List, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, as announced by the association on Thursday.

Hubbard, a senior right-handed pitcher from Birmingham, enters the season as Auburn’s top reliever out of the bullpen after collecting a SEC regular season-high 12 saves in 2009. Last season he led all Auburn relievers and was second on the team in strikeouts (56), led in appearances (25) and was second among the relievers in innings pitched (40 2/3). His three wins out of the bullpen were a single-season career high while his 4.20 ERA was a career low.

“Last year we were ahead in enough games where I was able to come in and they had confidence in me to get guys out,” Hubbard said. “I am looking forward to this year and being a leader as a senior. It has been a long trip and a fun trip and I am looking forward to it ending on a good note.”

Hubbard was added to the 2009 Stopper of the Year Watch List midseason last year.

Forty players were named to the initial watch list, including four from the SEC (Mike Bolsinger — Arkansas; Hubbard; Jake Morgan — Ole Miss; Matty Ott — LSU).