Webster University baseball was recognized for a trio of national baseball statistical champions by the NCAA.  Pitcher Josh Fleming was declared the 2017 NCAA III statistical champion for 'Lowest Earned Run Average' (ERA) and Kyle Uhrich is the NCAA III 'Strikeouts Per Nine Innings' statistical champion.  In addition, the Webster baseball team is the 2017 NCAA III statistical champion for 'Strikeouts Per Nine Innings'.
 
Fleming (JR, Columbia, IL/Columbia HS), who was selected in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays in June, had a 0.67 ERA for the 2017 season.  The next lowest ERA by a pitcher in the NCAA III was 0.78.  In 92 2/3 innings pitched, Fleming allowed just seven earned runs.  He also recorded the lowest WHIP (walks and hits per inning) in the NCAA III at .71 and was third in complete games at eight.

For his career, Fleming finished with the lowest career ERA in team history (1.92) and set Webster single season marks for his ERA and strikeouts (115) in 2017.  The 115 strikeouts ranked second in the NCAA III for the year.  Fleming is currently playing for the Princeton (WV) Rays, an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League.  He became just the second player from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to be drafted by MLB.

Uhrich (SR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves HS), who was signed by the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League, had 90 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched for an average of 13.73 per nine innings.  The next highest average in the NCAA III was 13.50.  For his career, Uhrich struck out 110 batters in just 69 2/3 innings of work.

Uhrich also led the NCAA III in fewest hits allowed per nine innings at 3.97, after giving up 26 in his 59 innings of work.  Uhrich was seventh in WHIP in the NCAA III at .86.  Despite pitching in only 59 innings, Urich's 90 strikeouts ranked 21st in the NCAA III for 2017. 

Currently playing for the Grizzlies, Uhrich is no stranger to their home field of GCS Ballpark...which is also the home field of the Gorloks. GCS is located in sight of the Gateway Arch in Sauget, IL.

Webster, as a team, had 417 strikeouts in 370.2 innings pitched for a 10.1 average per nine innings.  Fellow SLIAC member Spalding University was second at 9.5 per nine innings.  The statistical award was the team's first since it was the NCAA III fielding champ in 2014.  Webster also ranked second in shutouts at 10, third in WHIP at 1.16 and fifth in ERA at 3.04.  Webster was also eighth in Strikeout to Walk ratio (3.26).

Head Coach Bill Kurich said about Fleming, Uhrich, and the staff, "Josh was unbelievable from the first pitch of the year to the last. In the rare times he was in trouble during a game, he consistently had the ability to make a big pitch and get us back in the dugout. Kyle has two big-time pitches in his arsenal.  His fastball is difficult for anyone to hit because it seems to pick up speed in the last 10 feet.  When he had his slider working he was nearly unhittable. His ability to strike guys out late in games was a big reason we had success this past year.  It was the best year on the mound in the history of our program."
 
The NCAA will send plaques to Fleming, Uhrich, and for the Athletic Department to display in its trophy case.  Congratulations to Josh, Kyle, and the team on their honors!