AUSTIN, Texas – IUP senior Hunter Bigler (Washington, Pa./Trinity) has been named a second team selection on the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II Baseball Team, which was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and released on Thursday afternoon.
 
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
 
Bigler is an exercise science major who graduated with a 3.91 cumulative grade point average. He's one of seven members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) on the 12-person academic team that consists of schools from the PSAC, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Mountain East Conference.
 
The senior centerfielder was also a second team All-PSAC West selection, putting together the best offensive season of his four-year career, including a .349 batting average from his leadoff spot.
 
Bigler also set new career-highs with 38 runs scored, six doubles, four triples, two home runs and 24 runs batted in.
 
Bigler led the Crimson Hawks with 17 multi-hit games, including a pair of four-hit outings. He also boasted a hitting streak of nine games and reached base in 11 straight contests. His .451 on-base percentage was a team-high, as were his four stolen bases.
 
Bigler becomes the sixth IUP baseball student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® honors and the first since senior outfielder Robbie Zinsmeister was a third team selection in 2012.
 
Bigler is the second Academic All-America® selection for IUP this year, joining sophomore running back Chris Temple last fall.
 
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2015-16 Division II Academic All-America® teams program.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP baseball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPbaseball.
 
IUP Baseball Academic All-America® Selections
2016     Hunter Bigler (Washington, Pa./Trinity), second team
2012     Robbie Zinsmeister, third team
2003     Anthony Zambotti, third team
2001     Ryan Lemke, third team
1976     Craig Stabler, first team
1975     Craig Stabler, second team