Gardner-Webb's Dusty Quattlebaum Piles Up Academic Honors

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The recognition comes just a day after Quattlebaum was named first-team Capital One Academic All-America®, becoming the first baseball player in school history to earn that distinction.

The All-America®, team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. 

Quattlebaum (Boiling Springs, N.C. / Crest HS) has compiled a 4.00 cumulative GPA in his major of sports management, and has been a star on the field for the Runnin' Bulldogs in 2011. As of Thursday, he is batting .330 with a league-best 24 doubles. He leads the 'Dogs with six home runs and ranks second on the team with 47 RBI. Quattlebaum helped Gardner-Webb (30-21-1, 14-13 Big South) post its first 30-win season since 2004, along with a top-100 RPI (ratings percentage index) for the first time in school history.

He was twice honored as Big South Conference Player of the Week, driving in nine runs during a four-game week in each of those weeks, and was named NCBWA National Hitter of the Week following a stellar four-game stretch against Holy Cross and St. John's in March. Quattlebaum led the Big South in doubles during the 2011 regular season and currently ranks sixth nationally in doubles per game.

Quattlebaum and the No. 5 seed Runnin' Bulldogs are currently battling through the double-elimination bracket of the Royal Purple Big South Conference Tournament in Lexington, Va. After dropping a game to Liberty on Wednesday, the ‘Dogs eliminated Radford with an 11-5 victory on Thursday. Gardner-Webb will battle No. 3 Charleston Southern at 11:00 am on Friday in an elimination game for both teams. The Bucs lost a 6-1 decision to No. 2 Liberty Thursday night. Top-seeded Coastal Carolina and Liberty will play on Friday at 3:00 pm as the lone undefeated teams remaining. The winner of GWU-CSU and the loser of CCU-LU will meet at 7:00 pm Friday for the chance to advance to Saturday's championship round.

2011 Capital One Academic All-America®

University Division Baseball Team as selected by CoSIDA

FIRST TEAM


Pitcher - Danny Hutlzen, Virginia, Jr., 3.37, History

Pitcher - Michael Roth, South Carolina, Jr., 3.89, International Business

Catcher - Matt Rice, Western Kentucky, Sr., 4.00, Mechanical Engineering

Infielder - Paul Hoilman, ETSU, Sr., 3.95, Mathematics

Infielder - Matt Leeds, College of Charleston, Sr., 3.93, Accounting

Infielder - Drew Petit, Canisius, Jr., 4.00, Economics

Infielder - Dusty Quattlebaum, Gardner-Webb, RJr., 4.00, Sports Management

Outfielder - Brandon Eckerle, Michigan State, Sr., 3.98, General Business Admin., Pre-Law

Outfielder - James Ramsey, Florida State, Jr., 3.87, Finance

Outfielder - Chris Slater, Baylor, Sr., 3.98, Finance

Designated Hitter - Marc Bourgeois, Southern Mississippi, Sr., 3.82, Construction Engineering

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