Walter on Spezial
"Niko is coming off a great summer and a fall where he worked very hard on his delivery. As such, he has made big strides and is throwing the ball as well as anyone headed into the season. We expect him to be somewhere in our rotation."
2011 (Sophomore) Tied for the team-lead with 28 appearances on the season, the most among any Demon Deacon lefty ... Pitched 30.1 innings and recorded a 1-1 record with 19 strikeouts and a 5.34 ERA ... All of his appearances were out of the bullpen ... Turned in a season-best three strikeouts against Virginia Tech on April 10 ... Pitched a season-high 2.2 innings against Winthrop on April 19 without giving up a run and only surrendering one base hit ... Also struck out two Eagles en route to earning his only win of the season ... Went four straight appearances from March 22 to April 2 without giving up an earned run ... Turned in 16 total appearances without giving up an earned run ... Did not allow a home run on the year ... At the completion of Wake's season, was tied for fifth in total appearances (28).
2010 (Freshman)
Finished the year with a 1-4 record and a 4.43 ERA in 12 appearances, including one start ... Made collegiate debut as a starter against Dayton (2.21) and received the loss, giving up five runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Struck out two and walked three against the Flyers ... Earned first collegiate win in series finale against Xavier (3.6), tossing two scoreless innings and allowing two hits and one walk ... Pitched a perfect 1.1 innings with a strikeout in relief appearance against NC State (3.20) ... Threw a perfect inning of relief at High Point (3.24) with two strikeouts ... Tossed 2.1 scoreless innings against Charlotte (3.30), giving up two hits and three walks ... Did not allow a run in 0.2 of an inning against Appalachian State (5.18) ... Threw two perfect innings against Maryland (5.21) and struck out four of the six batters he faced.
High School
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 32nd round of the 2009 MLB Draft ... Three-year letter winner for the Don Bosco Prep baseball team ... Posted a career record of 15-1 with a 1.24 ERA while in high school ... Earned first team All-State, All-County and All-League honors ... Recruiting service Perfect Game ranked Spezial No. 272 in the class of 2009 ... Helped his team to a national championship in 2008 ... Played in the Perfect Game National Showcase in St. Paul, Minn. ... Pitched in the East Coast Pro showcase in Lakeland, Fla., and went 1-0 with two saves.
Personal
Born November 1, 1990 ... Son of Ron and Delphine Spezial.
