By Russ Reneau
Two years ago, HBU left-handed pitcher Matthew McCollough suffered an injury early in the season and believed he had thrown the last pitch of his career. But in June of 2017, he was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, and has returned to compete for the Huskies this season.
鈥淲e are excited to be able to have Matthew anchor our staff again,鈥� head coach Jared Moon said. 鈥淗is return gives us a great opportunity to win on the weekends. We don鈥檛 need him to come back better, we just hope he can be close to what he was. He鈥檚 a great kid, a great leader and great academically. He鈥檚 earned the respect of his teammates and they鈥檒l play hard for him.鈥�
鈥淚 was relieved when I heard the news, so I鈥檓 just blessed to get a second chance; not everyone gets that,鈥� McCollough said. 鈥淚 loved seeing how the guys finished the year (in 2017), and I want to be a part of it again. I feel like I鈥檓 at 100 percent, and I鈥檓 ready to get back on the mound and compete.鈥�
McCollough began his comeback in the fall of 2016 when he began his rehab program and started working on his master鈥檚 degree. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Accounting from HBU in May 2016. He progressed slowly, but steadily made strides during the Huskies鈥� workouts this past fall.
鈥淚鈥檓 about the same as before as I can be,鈥� McCollough said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a new elbow, so I still get a little sore, but that鈥檚 just part of (pitching). Everything now is more mental, just getting over the block I didn鈥檛 have when I was healthy.鈥�
A product of Katy Taylor High School, McCollough missed the entire 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery in July 2016 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. He last competed in 2016, making four starts, and posting a 2-0 record with a 1.09 ERA, 21 strikeouts and two walks. McCollough made his last appearance on March 6, 2016, hurling 7.2 innings in a 4-1 series-clinching victory over Utah.
鈥淚t was emotional last year, coming out to the ballpark and knowing I might have a chance to come back,鈥� McCollough said. 鈥淎 year ago, I thought I had 鈥榟ung them up鈥� 鈥� and I did, mentally 鈥� but the second I woke up from surgery, I realized, 鈥業鈥檓 not done, I鈥檝e got to get back out there and give it another chance.鈥欌��
鈥淗e has worked hard to get back, and if he鈥檚 half as good as he was, that鈥檚 pretty good for us,鈥� Moon said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檒l have a lot of success in our conference again.鈥�
McCollough was the ace of the Huskies鈥� 2015 Southland Conference Tournament Championship squad, going 8-3 with a 2.87 ERA, 74 strikeouts and 18 walks in 106.2 innings. He started the opener of the conference tournament and threw the first of HBU鈥檚 NCAA record four-straight complete games in a conference tournament. He also earned the victory in the championship game when the Huskies won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title.
Among HBU鈥檚 career leaders, McCollough ranks ninth with a 2.87 ERA, 10th with 148 strikeouts, 11th with 222.1 innings pitched and 15th with 48 appearances.
The baseball team opened its season at home on Feb. 16 against Western Michigan and McCollough couldn鈥檛 wait for Opening Day.
鈥淚鈥檓 ready,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he start of the season couldn鈥檛 get here soon enough.鈥�