June 25, 2008

From Bucknell Athletic Communications

LEWISBURG, Pa. - After being named one of 10 national finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the Baseball Division earlier this spring, 2008 Bucknell graduate Jason Buursma earned a spot on the All-Senior All-America Second Team, it was announced this past weekend at the NCAA College World Series.

The All-Senior All-America teams were released in conjunction with the presentation of the baseball division Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which was awarded to Cole St. Clair of Rice. Based on the cumulative balloting results of head coach, national media and fan voting, Buursma, St. Clair and the remaining eight finalists were placed on the All-Senior All-America first and second teams.

The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award program recognizes senior student-athletes who demonstrate the qualities both on and off the field of what it means to be a complete student-athlete, with specific attention paid to achievements in the classroom and community. In the two years the award has been presented for baseball, Bucknell has landed two student-athletes among the 10 national finalists as 2007 graduate Ryan Gryskevicz proceeded Buursma as a All-Senior All-America Second Team selection last season.

The honor adds to a long list of awards Buursma received in his four years with the Orange and Blue, including All-America plaudits from three different organizations this spring and a spot on the ECAC All-Star Second Team last week. The 2008 Patriot League Player of the Year and Tournament MVP, Buursma enjoyed his finest season of his Bucknell career as a senior, hitting a team-best .367 with 58 hits, 37 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 37 RBI and a slugging percentage of .671 in 2008. On the mound, he broke the program wins record with a 9-3 mark and posted a 2.58 earned-run average in 83.2 innings. He totaled just 10 walks and 78 strikeouts, while opposing hitters batted only .226 against him, ending his collegiate career with a 17.1 consecutive shutout innings streak intact and a 2.13 career ERA that is the top mark in Patriot League annals.

Away from the diamond, Buursma has performed equally as well in the classroom. He was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team after earning Academic All-District honors for a second consecutive season and was chosen as the Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year. He graduated with a 3.57 grade-point average as an economics major with a philosophy minor, was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice and was a Dean's List student. During the fall of his junior year, Buursma spent the semester studying abroad at Oxford.

Buursma, who was selected in the 25th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, is currently playing for the short season class-A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York-Penn League. This past weekend, he picked up his first win of his professional career, throwing 1.2 innings of relief against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Against the Scrappers, Buursma did not allow a run on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts. He is currently 1-0 in two appearances with a 0.00 ERA and five strikeouts.

The Bison finished 2008 with the second-highest wins total in school history at 30-24-2 and won their fourth Patriot League championship, earning a Patriot League record fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament. At the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, Bucknell captured its first ever tournament victory, upsetting Florida State, 7-0, in the opening round of regional play.