May 17, 2011
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M junior pitchers Ross Stripling and Estevan Uriegas were honored for their achievements in the classroom Tuesday as the duo was named Academic All-Big 12. Stripling was a first team selection, while Ureigas represented A&M on the second team.
Stripling, a finance major from Southlake, Texas, maintains an impressive 3.64 GPA in the classroom while also excelling on the baseball diamond. Earlier this month, he was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Six Team and is a candidate for Academic All-America, which will be voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
This season, Stripling has proved to be one of the nation's top pitchers and owns an 11-2 record on the mound with a 2.09 ERA and three saves. The right-hander has thrown 86 innings during 18 appearances and has struck out 83 batters while allowing just 13 walks.
His 11 wins ties for the most among Big 12 pitchers this season as does his seven victories in league play. Opponents are hitting just .199 against Stripling, a mark that places him third in the Big 12.
Uriegas, a kinesiology/motor behavior major from Round Rock, Texas, has been an important part of the Aggie pitching staff, seeing much of his action out of the A&M bullpen. The lefty has made 15 appearances and two starts this season while compiling a 1-0 record with a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings of work.
This marks the second straight season that both Stripling and Uriegas have been honored by the conference office as they each received first team Academic All-Big 12 accolades a season ago.
Texas A&M baseball is back in action tonight when it hosts UT Arlington in a 6:35 p.m. contest at Olsen Field.