ATLANTA -- Georgia State relief pitcher Wayne Wages was named to the initial Watch List for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, the association announced Monday.

Wages, a senior left-hander, takes over this year as the Panthers' closer after a strong junior season in a setup role. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native (Collins Hill High School) led Georgia State with 26 appearances in 2015, just two shy of the school season record, and posted a 4-0 record with a 3.77 earned run average. He led all Panther pitchers with a .171 batting average against, allowing just 19 hits in 31 innings with 31 strikeouts.

Wages and the Panthers open the 2016 season Friday, hosting Western Michigan at 4 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex in the first game of the Atlanta Challenge. VCU, an NCAA Super Regional team last season, and Purdue round out the weekend on Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).

Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. The 2016 Stopper of the Year Watch List will be updated with a midseason release on Wednesday, April 27, including the national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 8, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional competition.

The NCBWA's All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced at the 2016 College World Series.