MILWAUKEE, Wis. – AJ Blubaugh was named Horizon League Reliever of the Year and freshmen Riley Frey and James Severson also earned recognition, announced by the league office on Tuesday morning.
 
It marks the first time since the Horizon League began the Reliever of the Year category that a Panther pitcher has earned the honor. Blubaugh was also named All-League First Team. Frey earned an All-League Second Team honor and also joined Severson on the All-Freshman team.
 
One of the most dominant pitchers in the Horizon League, Blubaugh finished the regular season with a 1.96 earned run average and seven saves in 17 appearances. He struck out 30 in 23.0 total innings, an average of 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings, and held opposing batters to a .165 average at the plate.
 
His seven saves ranks second in the Horizon League and 49th in NCAA Division I. Blubaugh recorded 12 scoreless appearances including eight in which he did not allow a base runner. On two separate occasions, the right-handed hurler struck out all three batters he faced in an inning of relief.
 
Frey had one of the best freshman campaigns for the Panthers in recent program history as he finished top 10 in the Horizon League in earned run average (6th, 3.37), innings pitched (4th, 74.2), and strikeouts (8th, 63).
 
The MKE ace notched three complete games and earned two victories in his first year for the black and gold, totaling eight outings with at least 5.0 innings pitched and two earned runs or less. He also set a new Panthers' freshman record in starts (13) and strikeouts (63) while ranking second in complete games (3) and fifth in strikeout to walk ratio (2.3).
 
Severson put together a solid campaign in his first year for Milwaukee, totaling 24 strikeouts in 20.0 total innings with a 3.60 earned run average. Outside of one extended relief outing and one tough spot against UIC, Severson allowed just two earned runs in his 10 other outings scattering nine hits in those appearances.
 
Milwaukee will enter the Horizon League Tournament as the No. 4 seed. The Panthers will face No. 1 Wright State at 10:00 am CT on Thursday, May 27 with live coverage links available on MKEPanthers.com.