Baseball Academic All-America® teams

Austin, Texas----Wingate University redshirt freshman right-hander Corey Avant has been named a third team Academic All-America® honoree by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Avant earns Academic All-America accolades for the first time in his career.  

Avant gives Wingate University 135 Academic All-America® honorees all-time and 126 selections since 2000. The Bulldogs lead all of NCAA Division II in Academic All-America® honorees this millennium, while also leading all colleges and universities throughout North Carolina. Avant gives Wingate baseball five Academic All-America® selections all-time. He is the first since Ty Andrus earned first team honors in 2018. Jacob Karr earned second team accolades in 2012, while David Yount was a third team honoree in 2003 and second team selection in 2004.

Avant had a huge year in his first season on the mound for the Bulldogs, helping the defending national champions go 48-10 on the season with a 21-2 record in league play to capture the regular season SAC title. The Bulldogs once again played in the SAC title game and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, receiving hosting duties at the regionals for the first time in program history. The Bulldogs led the nation in wins and winning percentage during the regular season, while setting a program record for wins with 48, good for second-most in league history.

Avant made a team-high 26 appearances out of the Wingate bullpen in 2022. He went 3-1 on the year, adding a pair of saves while compiling a 3.41 ERA to earn All-SAC accolades. Avant piled up 51 strikeouts in 29 innings of work. He did not allow an earned run in 20 of his 26 appearances on the year.

Avant started a streak of eight straight scoreless outings with a perfect inning of relief against Queens with a strikeout. He struck out six in 2 1/3 innings at Emmanuel, allowing just one hit while earning the win. He also notched the win against UVA Wise, striking out three in two scoreless innings. Avant notched three punchouts in two shutout frames at UNC Pembroke. He struck out five in two scoreless innings at Mount Olive.

A sophomore in the classroom, Avant has a 4.00 GPA at Wingate, majoring in mathematics. He is one of only six pitchers to earn a spot on the Academic All-America® teams this year. The other five are seniors or graduate students. Of the 36 baseball Academic All-America® honorees this year, Avant is one of only three sophomores to earn the recognition. He is one of two SAC student-athletes to pick up Academic All-America® accolades this year, joining Nick Brassington of Queens on the third team.

Academic All-America® program notes
 
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure, assisting CoSIDA with the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 DII Academic All-America® teams' program. To be nominated for Academic All-America® honors, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.30 cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or a significant reserve on his team.

Wingate University

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as eight master's and five doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.