Feb. 8, 2013

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Colorado Springs, Colo. - UCLA relief pitchers David Berg and Ryan Deeter have both been named to the initial NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List. The Stopper of the Year is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball at the end of the season.

Berg, a sophomore from Covina, Calif., established the Pac-12 and UCLA record for single-season appearances with 50 in 2012. He was one appearance shy of the NCAA Division I all-time single-season record, which is 51, set by Florida's Connor Falkenbach in 2005.

Berg went 5-3 with one save and 63 strikeouts in 74.0 innings last season, while also leading the Pac-12 with a 1.46 ERA and .165 opposing batting average. He picked up Freshman All-America honors from Baseball America, the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball at the end of the year, and was one of just two freshmen to earn All-Pac-12 honors. Berg spent the summer pitching for the USA Collegiate National Team, recording two saves and a 3.72 ERA in eight games pitched. Additionally, he earned second-team preseason All-America honors from the NCBWA back in December.

Deeter, a redshirt junior from Newark, Calif., made 36 relief appearances for the Bruins in 2012, going 1-0 with a team-best 0.89 ERA. He served primarily as a setup reliever and logged 26 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work. Deeter also earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 accolades and finished tied for second in the conference with his 36 appearances. In addition, the 0.89 ERA mark he put up in 2012 ranks second on UCLA's all-time single-season ERA list.

UCLA will open the regular season a week from today against Minnesota on Friday, Feb. 15 at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Game time of the season opener is 6 p.m. The Bruins and Golden Gophers will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. To purchase tickets to any of UCLA Baseball's home games, click here.