Evans named ABCA/Rawlings-NAIA Gold Glover

NAIA Release

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Bellevue University senior Matt Evans (Omaha, Neb.) was named the Gold Glove winner at third base last night when the ABCA/Rawlings-NAIA Gold Glove Team, selected by the NAIA-Baseball Coaches Association All-America Committee, was announced.

This was the 12^th season of the award where nine players are chosen based upon their defensive success.

It marks the third-straight season in which a Bruin has been named to the team, with Jake Browne having received the honor in each of the previous two seasons at catcher, and fourth time overall (Brett Chamberlain, 2009).

Evans posted a .951 fielding percentage while manning the hot corner this season, committing just six errors in 123 total chances. He ranked third on the team with 81 assists, helped to turn five double plays, and made even the most difficult plays consistently look routine.

In addition to being named a National Gold Glover, Evans won the award at the conference level in each of his three seasons at BU.

Offensively, Evans produced a .247/.377/.340 slash line with nine extra-base hits, 24 RBI, and 33 runs scored. He led the team in both sac bunts (11) and hit-by-pitches (11).

In three seasons with the Bruins, Evans racked up three NSAA Gold Gloves, the 2018 National Gold Glove, was a first team (2016), second team (2017), and honorable mention (2018) all-NSAA selection, and twice earned first team Omaha World-Herald NAIA all-Nebraska selection.

Evans makes BU history as he became the first Bruin to earn the honor at a position other than catcher.

Bellevue wrapped up the 2018 season with a 38-23 overall record (17-5 NSAA) and won their second North Star Tournament in the last three seasons. The Bruins earned their eighth-straight NAIA Opening Round bid and 21^st NAIA National Tournament appearance in the program's storied history.

2018 ABCA/Rawlings-NAIA Gold Glove Team