University Heights Academy’s Drew McGowan will enter his junior season on the baseball diamond with a college commitment under his belt. McGowan announced on his Twitter account Sunday night that he had committed to play baseball at Mississippi State University.
“I’m extremely excited to announce that I have committed to Mississippi State University to further my baseball and academic careers,” McGowan said on his Twitter account. “I’m honored to have been given this opportunity and would like to thank all of the coaches and teachers that have influenced my development as a person and player.”
McGowan was one of the top pitchers in the Second Region as a sophomore, earning a reputation of coming up huge in the big games. Against eventual region champion Caldwell County, McGowan allowed just five hits and struck out six. He struck out 15 Hopkinsville batters in the district tournament opener. Against Fort Campbell on March 21, McGowan pitched a one-hitter and struck out 19 batters in getting the complete game win.
McGowan, who took a visit to the University of Kentucky over the weekend, was 6-4 on the season with a 1.07 ERA. He struck out 107 batters in 59 innings and walked just 18 batters. He did not allow an earned run in the last 26 innings he pitched.
Mississippi State is coached by Andy Cannizaro and finished 40-27 this past season, losing to LSU in the Super Regionals. Gary Henderson, a former SEC Coach of the Year at Kentucky, is on the staff at Mississippi State.