SAN MARCOS, Texas – Following a historic season on the mound, former Texas State baseball standout Tristan Stivors has been named the 2021-22 Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year on Thursday by the league's office.
 
"I am extremely honored and proud to be the recipient of the Sun Belt Male Athlete of the Year. I share this amazing honor with my teammates and coaches," said Stivors "We were on a mission, set goals and reached them together. We wanted people to fall in love with the Bobcats from Texas State!"
 
"I want to thank my teammates and coaches as our successes were only possible because of the commitment and dedication from all of you to our team. Bobcat fans, y'all are amazing. Thank you for believing in us and cheering us on throughout the season. And to my family, your support and endless dedication to my dream will always hold a special place in my heart. I am honored to have been a part of one of the greatest seasons ever by the Bobcats."
 
"Thank you to the Sun Belt Conference, Texas State University, and each and every Bobcat fan! We have created memories that will last a lifetime. East 'Em Up Cats!"
 
Stivors was a consensus First Team All-American this past year with recognition from ABCA/Rawlings, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, D1Baseball and the NCBWA. He also was selected to the Baseball America and Perfect Game All-America Second Teams to become the first player in program history to be a unanimous All-American.
 
The right-hander was selected as the 2022 NCBWA Stopper of the Year, an award that recognizes the top relief pitcher in college baseball. Stivors also earned ABCA/Rawlings Central All-Region and All-Sun Belt First Team honors.
 
Making 32 appearances with one start, he finished with 18 saves, 10 of them being multi-innings, to lead the entire NCAA, set a new Bobcat season record and match the Sun Belt record. Stivors also posted a 7-1 record with a staff-low 2.21 ERA in 61 innings. His 86 strikeouts led all relievers in the conference as he posted 23 outings with multiple strikeouts and held opponents to a .210 batting average.
 
The Castroville, Texas native concluded his Bobcat career with his first and only start in a Texas State uniform in the winner-take-all final of the Stanford Regional. In seven innings, Stivors held the second-ranked Cardinals to one run on eight hits and struck out nine.
 
"I couldn't be more proud and thankful for Tristan for all that he has done for our program and this University. He has worked extremely hard and it's great to see him getting rewarded for his hard work," said head coach Steven Trout. "He has been part of a lot of firsts in our program and he adds another as being the Sun Belt's Male Athlete of the Year. He is a Bobcat Legend!"
 
In July, Stivors was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 16th round with the 491st overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft. He ended the year with at the Single-A level with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
 
Stivors is the second Texas State student-athlete to receive the conference's top honor, joining former men's basketball player Nijal Pearson who took home the 2019-20 award.
 
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