University of Toledo Athletics

Toledo & Summer League Highlights
Ranks second (11, 2011), third (9, 2009) and tied for eighth (4, 2008) in school history in saves and tied for ninth in total appearances (23, 2011) in single season record book ... Named to midseason watch list for 2011 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award given to top relief pitcher ... Played last two summers for Winchester Royals in Valley League ... Tallied 2-0 record with 3.77 ERA and team-high five saves in 28.2 innings of work in 2010, earning all-star recognition ... Played with teammates Ben Hammer and Aaron Dudley for playoff participants in 2009 ... Made 14 relief appearances, posting 1-0 mark with team-high six saves in 21.2 frames of work ... Played for Webster Yankees in 2008 New York Collegiate League ... Registered team-leading 1.65 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 32.2 innings of work, finishing with 16.1 consecutive scoreless frames.

As a Senior (2011)
Appeared in 23 games in relief role ... Sported 1-4 record with 2.40 ERA and team-high 11 saves ... In MAC contests, posted 1-1 ledger with 1.32 ERA and four saves ... Accumulated 30.0 innings of work, surrendering 11 runs (eight earned) on 23 hits with 34 strikeouts ... Ranked third in MAC in saves ... First on team in saves and second in opponent batting average (.213) ... Closed out victories against Ball State (G2, May 20), Eastern Michigan (May 14), Lake Erie College (April 12), Dayton (April 5), Akron (G1, April 2), Oakland (March 30), Kent State (March 26), Cincinnati (March 23), Niagara (March 18) and Louisville (Feb. 25-26) ... Worked season-high 3.0 scorless innings vs. Western Michigan in second game of doubleheader with four strikeouts to earn victory (April 30) ... Threw 1.2 frames vs. Bradley at RussMatt Invitational with four punchouts (March 11) ... Recorded career-high six strikeouts vs. Canisius (Feb. 20).

As a Junior (2010)
Appeared in 17 games, making two starts ... Sported 0-2 record with 3.68 ERA and team-high three saves ... In MAC contests, posted 0-1 ledger with 4.09 ERA ... Accumulated 29.1 innings of work, surrendering 21 runs (12 earned) on 34 hits with 26 strikeouts ... Worked 1.1 scoreless frames with pair of strikeouts vs. Eastern Michigan in MAC Tournament (May 27) ... Tossed career-high 4.1 innings vs. Central Michigan in series finale, allowing three runs on five hits with four punchouts (May 9) ... Struck out side in 1.0 relief frame at Western Michigan in second game of doubleheader (May 1) ... Worked 4.0 innings vs. Oakland in first collegiate start, yielding two runs on three hits with three strikeouts (April 21) ... Collected saves against Cincinnati (G2, March 20), Winthrop (March 11) and Memphis (Feb. 26).

As a Sophomore (2009)
Appeared in 19 games in relief role ... Sported 2-0 record with 5.14 ERA and team-high nine saves ... In MAC contests, posted 1-0 ledger with 6.75 ERA and four saves ... Accumulated 21.0 innings of work, surrendering 13 runs (12 earned) on 25 hits with 12 strikeouts ... Led MAC and 37th nationally in saves ... Third in saves in league play ... Converted nine of 12 save situations ... Closed out victories against Eastern Michigan (May 21), Central Michigan (G1, April 26), Northern Illinois (G2, April 18), Ohio (April 5), Akron (March 29), Vermont (March 13), Sacred Heart (March 10) and Belmont (Feb. 27-28) ... Threw 1.1 scoreless frames at Northern Illinois in second game of doubleheader with season-high three strikeouts (April 18) ... Tossed season-high 2.0 perfect innings vs. Miami in series finale, collecting victory (March 22) ... Worked 1.2 innings at Tennessee Tech in series finale, earning win (March 8).

As a Freshman (2008)
Appeared in 20 games in relief role ... Sported 1-1 record with 4.08 ERA and team-high four saves ... In MAC contests, posted 3.12 ERA and team-high four saves with no decisions ... Accumulated 35.1 innings of work, surrendering 20 runs (16 earned) on 35 hits with 19 strikeouts ... First on team in saves, second in total appearances and opponent batting average (.257, 35-for-136) and third in ERA ... Tied for ninth in MAC in saves ... Fifth in saves in league games ... Closed out wins against Ohio (April 5), Northern Illinois (April 19), Central Michigan (April 26) and Ball State (May 16) ... Worked 3.0 scoreless innings vs. Wright State, recording season-high four strikeouts (April 22) ... Tied season high with 4.0 scoreless frames vs. Bobcats in series opener, allowing four hits with four strikeouts to collect first collegiate save (April 5) ... Tossed season-high 4.0 frames at Charleston Southern to register first collegiate victory (March 4).

High School
A 2007 graduate of Margaretta High School ... Four-year letterwinner in baseball and basketball and three years in football ... Invited to play in 2007 Blue-Gray Classic for Mid-Ohio Team at University of Cincinnati ... Went 7-3 with 1.30 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 63.0 innings of work as a senior ... Named second-team Division III all-state and first-team all-district, as well as first-team All-Lorain Journal and MVP of District 9 All-Star Game ... Went 6-4 with 2.20 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 61.0 innings of work as a junior ... Posted nine complete games and selected team's Top Defensive Player ... Garnered first-team Division III all-district, second-team all-conference and honorable mention Lorain Journal accolades ... Two-time team captain in football ... Two-time first-team all-conference, Lorain Journal and all-district selection in basketball.

Personal
Born Matthew Derrick Zahel on July 25, 1988 ... Parents are Kent and Nora Zahel ... Has a brother, Shawn ... Majoring in adolescent and young adult education with concentration in integrated social studies.

Zahel's Personal Bests

Innings Pitched
4.1 vs. Central Michigan (May 9, 2010)
4.0 on four occasions
Strikeouts
6 vs. Canisius (Feb. 20)
4 on five occasions

Zahel's Career Statistics