May 26, 2009

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Ryan Bennett of Saint Louis, the 2009 Atlantic 10 Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year, has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First-Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Bennett led Saint Louis batting (.368), hits (77), doubles (16) and stolen bases (19). Named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, which honors the nation's top shortstop, the Kansas City, Mo., native enjoyed a career-best 17-game hitting streak this season. In the classroom, Bennett achieved a 3.95 grade point average while earning his degree in Business Administration Entrepreneurship and is pursuing his Masters of Business Administration

His .345 career batting average ranks sixth on SLU's all-time list, and his 77 hits this year are tied for the fourth most in a single season at SLU. The senior shortstop joins Ryan Bird (1996) as the only other first-team Academic All-Americans in SLU baseball history.

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.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

ESPN The Magazine - winner of the 2006 and 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence - is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized biweekly with a circulation of 1.9 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.