INDIANAPOLIS- Kentucky Wesleyan College baseball standout Evan Oakley has been named the recipient of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Collegiate Achievement Award, recognizing excellence in athletics, academics, and community service throughout his collegiate career.
Oakley closes his career as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Great Midwest Athletic Conference history and one of the premier pitchers in Kentucky Wesleyan baseball history.
“This award means everything to me,” said Oakley. “KWC has and will always be home for me, and it has treated me in the best possible ways. It also shows me that all the work and time that I’ve put in over the years has paid off and all the events I missed to chase my goals were 100% worth it. I would not have been able to do these things without the support from my family and teammates, or without the opportunities and trust that the coaches here have given me throughout my career. With the addition of this award, it brings me a ton of honor and gratitude to be able to close my career on such a high note as well as getting the tremendous opportunity to pitch in the NCAA tournament and experience one last wild run with this group of guys”
A dominant force on the mound, Oakley is the all-time G-MAC and Kentucky Wesleyan leader in career strikeouts with 338 and counting, while also holding the conference and school record for career games started with 53 and counting. He currently owns the all-time G-MAC record with a 9.71 career strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio as well as the conference’s all-time leader in career innings pitched with 308.1.
Oakley’s remarkable 2025 campaign established him among the nation’s elite Division II pitchers. He earned D2CCA All-American Third Team honors and was named the Great Midwest Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference in ERA, wins, and innings pitched. He also collected ABCA/Rawlings Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year recognition.
His 1.78 regular season ERA ranked among the top five in all of NCAA Division II, and he opened the 2025 season with 17.2 consecutive shutout innings pitched. Oakley added First Team recognition from the G-MAC, NBCWA All-Midwest Region, ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region, and D2CCA All-Midwest Region teams.
“Evan is the ultimate competitor,” said Kentucky Wesleyan head baseball coach Todd Lillpop. “I have been extremely blessed to be his coach for the last four years. He leads by example and has a drive to be the best. Evan has broken just about every pitching record we have at Kentucky Wesleyan and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. I’m so happy he gets the opportunity to be a part of a team that is playing in the NCAA tournament. After all he has done for our institution, he is well deserving for this award. What a great way to finish a remarkable career!"
Additional honors throughout his career include:
- 2026 Kentucky Wesleyan Male Bullitt Wilson Award winner, recognizing the institution’s top overall male student-athlete career
- 2025 Kentucky Wesleyan Athlete of the Year
- 2024 ABCA/Rawlings All-Midwest Region Second Team
- 2023 Kentucky Wesleyan Newcomer of the Year after recording 70 strikeouts and four complete games as a true freshman
Oakley’s name is also prominently featured throughout the G-MAC record book. He currently ranks tied for third in conference history in career wins with 22 and counting, tied for third in career complete games with nine, sixth in opponent batting average at .254, tied for sixth in career shutouts with three, and sixth in career ERA at 3.82.
Away from the field, Oakley demonstrated an equally impressive commitment to academic success and community involvement.
Academically, he earned Dean’s List recognition in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. He also completed five semesters carrying 15 or more credit hours and posted a GPA of 3.0 or higher during six semesters at Kentucky Wesleyan.
In the community, Oakley consistently dedicated his time to service initiatives across Owensboro and the surrounding area. Since 2022, he has participated annually in elementary school reading programs while also volunteering at the Wendell Foster Half Marathon and with Build A Bed. He participated in the 2023 MLK Day of Service, served at the 2024 Special Olympics Softball Tournament, and assisted with Wendell Foster’s Nerf Wars and Special Needs Expo in 2025.
The Collegiate Achievement Award honors student-athletes who exemplify the highest standards of athletic excellence, academic achievement, leadership, and service throughout their collegiate careers.