UNCP Athletics

AS A JUNIOR (2018): Saw action in 19 games from the mound, including two starts … Posted a 4-4 record, a 5.35 ERA and two saves in 37 innings pitched with 33 strikeouts and 15 walks … Also combined for one shutout … Held opponents to a .296 (47-for-159) batting average … Committed one error in six total defensive chances for an .833 fielding percentage … Earned first save in the season opener with Shepherd with three innings of relief work … Earned first start in game two with IUP, but did not earn a decision … Struck out five and allowed just two hits and one earned run in three innings of work in the series opener with Lander en route to collecting his second save … Struck out four and allowed just one hit in two scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win against Wingate at home … Earned second win of campaign against Barton at home, striking out two and allowing one hit in one inning of relief … Tallied an 11-pitch victory in game two with Chowan, striking out one and yielding one hit … Earned the start at Wingate and picked up his second win of the campaign against the Bulldogs by striking out two in three scoreless innings of work … Also combined with two other pitchers to shut out Wingate.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2017): PBC Tournament All-Tournament Team … Saw action from the hill in 25 games, including three starts … Posted a 4-1 record, a 3.99 ERA and five saves in 58.2 innings pitched with 49 strikeouts and 16 walks … Also tacked up a pair of combined shutouts … Held opponents to a .256 batting average ... Picked up the win in relief at Pfeiffer, striking out one and allowing just one hit in four innings of work … Tallied first save of the season in game two of the series with Saint Rose, striking out four and surrendering just one hit in three innings from the mound … Picked up the win in relief in UNCP’s 11-10 win over Chowan as well … Registered a three-inning save in game two of the series at Georgia Southwestern … Struck out four in two innings of scoreless relief in the series opener with Francis Marion, but was not awarded a decision … Scattered three hits and allowed just a lone earned run in his start at Wingate, while also grabbing the win in a pre-determined rotation … Saw action in both ends of the series-opening doubleheader at Flagler, combining for four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief … Earned a save in the second half of the twinbill … Struck out six and allowed one hit in four scoreless innings of work against North Georgia in the PBC Tournament … Struck out six and scattered three hits and a lone unearned run in six innings of relief against Georgia College in the PBC Tournament championship game.

AS A FRESHMAN (2016): Saw action in 17 games from the mound, all in relief … Posted a 0-2 record, one save and a 4.56 ERA in 25-2/3 innings pitched with 28 strikeouts and five walks … Held opponents to a .300 batting average … Did not allow a run in the first two appearances of his collegiate career, striking out two in an inning of work against Concord and striking out three in one scoreless inning against Pfeiffer … Also worked one scoreless inning of relief against Millersville (2 K), Coker (2 H, 2 K), Wingate (H, K), USC Aiken (H, K) and Lander (2 K, H, BB) … Earned his first collegiate save by striking out one and scattering three hits in three scoreless innings of work against Georgia Southwestern.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Holly Springs High School for coach Rod Whitesel … Tallied four doubles, seven RBI and seven runs scored as a senior … Also averaged 4.5 rebounds and one block per game as a member of the basketball team.

PERSONAL: The son of Heather and Robert Simpson … Has three brothers – Phil, Alex and Robby – and one sister, Anna … Younger brother, Alex, is a catcher for the Braves ... Maintained a 3.8 cumulative grade point average at Holly Springs High School … Enrolled in pre-major studies at UNCP.