COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) earned Second Team Freshman All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), announced Monday (June 12). The NCBWA is the second major publication to honor Sikkema as a Freshman All-American this season. He earned a spot on the second team as a relief pitcher.
Sikkema was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection and two-time SEC Freshman of the Week after putting together a sensational 2017 season. He went 8-2 on the mound with four saves as his eight wins are tied for the most ever by a Mizzou true freshman (Houck had eight in 2015, Kyle Gibson had eight in 2007). He also added a team-high four saves. Following the SEC Tournament, Sikkema finished ranked sixth in the SEC in wins while leading the league in hits allowed per nine innings (5.90) and WHIP (0.88). His 0.88 WHIP was ninth nationally and second among all freshmen in the nation. His 5.90 hits per nine mark ranked 18th nationally and third among all freshmen. He also ranked eighth in the SEC in ERA and seventh among all freshmen nationally.
After allowing an earned run before collecting an out in his first collegiate appearance, Sikkema settled in and ran off a streak of 29.2 innings without an earned run from Feb. 18-March 25, spanning nine appearances. In those 29.2 innings, he struck out 48 batters and walked just seven while scattering only 16 hits, with only two going for extra-bases. He had a win or save in eight of those nine appearances (5-0, three saves).
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