Alan Knotts

Sept. 5, 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Former Louisiana Tech pitcher Alan Knotts was named the team's Pitcher of the Year by the State College Spikes, the short-season Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Knotts appeared in 21 games (all out of the bullpen) for the Spikes and went 3-2 with a 4.09 earned run average and one save. He struck out 51 batters in 44.0 innings pitched while only walking nine. He also had a streak of 14 innings at one point during the year where he did not walk a batter.

During his senior year for the Bulldogs, Knotts was the team's most consistent pitcher with a 3-3 record, one save and a 4.74 ERA. He struck out 57 batters in 57.0 innings pitched while allowing only a .265 average to opposing hitters. He was named WAC Pitcher of the Week following an impressive performance against UT-Arlington in February.

For his career, Knotts won seven games for Tech and struck out 115 batters in 109.2 innings pitched.

Knotts was selected by the Pirates in the 38th round of June's Major League Baseball Draft, part of a six-player draft class that marked the largest in Tech baseball history.