Career Highs

• Innings Pitched: 3.1 vs. Eastern Illinois, 4/7/15
• Strikeouts: 5, 3 times (Florida Gulf Coast, 2/28/16)

Senior - 2016

• 2016 MLB Draft - 34th round - Los Angeles Angels
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award nominee
• Academic All-Big Ten
• 5-1, 3.60 ERA, 5 BB, 34 SO, 30.0 IP, 29 appearances
• Second on the team in saves (6)
• Tied for second on the team in wins (5)
• Fifth on the team in ERA (3.60)
• 3-0 in Big Ten games
• Third in Illinois history in career appearances (79)
• Fourth in Illinois history in Big Ten career appearances (32)
• Fifth in Illinois history in season appearances (29)
• Fourth in Illinois history in Big Ten season appearances (14)
• Led the Big Ten in appearances during conference games (14)
• Third in the Big Ten in appearances during the regular season (29)

Junior - 2015

• 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in 24 appearances and two saves
• 17 scoreless outings in 24 total appearances out of the bullpen
• Picked up his third win of the season in relief against Wright State in the NCAA Champaign Regional (6/1), escaping a bases loaded situation in the fifth
• Appeared twice in relief during the Big Ten Tournament, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings and striking out two
• Picked up second save vs. Rutgers (5/9) and second win vs. Rutgers (5/10) 
• Earned first career win at Eastern Illinois (4/7) with a career-high 3.1 scoreless innings and three strikeouts
• Retired both batters he faced vs. Kent State (3/25)
• Tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in two appearances during the USF series and struck out two 
• Had a career-best five strikeouts vs. Lindenwood-Belleville (3/18) 
• Earned first career save at Lamar (2/14), recording the final four outs

Sophomore - 2014

• Made 14 appearances out of the bullpen and went 1-0 with a 7.43 ERA
• Did not allow a run in 10 of 14 appearances
• Registered 10 strikeouts and two walks in 13.1 innings pitched
• Earned first career victory following two scoreless innings of relief as part of a staff day vs. Illinois State (3/26)
• Turned in a scoreless inning against Purdue (3/28), vs. Missouri (4/23) at Busch Stadium and vs. Indiana (4/27)
• Recorded an out on only batter faced at Southern Illinois (3/15)
• Threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout vs. FGCU (3/1) and Indiana State (3/18)
• Faced one batter at Georgia State (2/16) and recorded an out
• Played for the Kenosha Kingfish of the Northwoods League along with Illini teammate Zack Kolakowski during the summer

Freshman - 2013

• Pitched in 12 games with 11 appearances out of the bullpen and one start, totaling a 5.59 ERA, eight strikeouts and seven walks in 9.2 innings
• Turned in best outing with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts at Illinois State (4/16)
• Made first career start vs. Southern Illinois (4/30), receiving a no decision after three innings and two earned runs
• Thew a perfect inning of relief with a strikeout at Ohio State (4/19)
• Pitched 0.2 scoreless and hitless innings at Baylor (3/8)
• Made Illini debut in the season-opening victory at Tennessee Tech (2/15)
• Played for the Lake Eerie Monarchs of the Great Lakes League during the summer

High School

• Threw a no-hitter in the Class 1A state title game, only the fourth in Iowa state finals history, to lead Martensdale-St. Marys to its third-straight state title
• Went 8-3 in 2012
• Named to the 2012 IHSBCA All-State Super Team and also was a first-team Pride of Iowa Conference selection
• Went 9-0 with a 1.43 ERA while striking out 72 and walking 19 in 53 2/3 innings in 2011
• Led Martensdale-St. Marys to its second-straight Iowa Class 1A championship in 2011, extending its winning streak to a national-record 87 games
• Held opponents to a .146 batting average in 2011
• Also hit .425, third-best on the team, with 10 home runs, eight doubles, and a team-best 62 RBIs
• Named to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State second team in 2011
• Named to the IHSBCA All-Southwest District first team
• Named first-team All-Pride of Iowa Conference in 2011.

Personal

• Born Oct. 9, 1993
• Parents are Dan and Lonna Nielsen
• Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism with a concentration in sport management
• Has three sisters, Jaclyn, Jenna and JoAnn
• Father, Dan, played football at Waldorf College and Drake University, and mother, Lonna, played basketball at Waldorf
• Favorite athlete is Jeremy Hellickson
• Earliest baseball memory is playing USSSA baseball since he was nine years old
• His father most influenced his athletic career because he pushed him to be the best he can be and has been to nearly all of his games