AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore outfielder Tyler Bugner earned honorable mention All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), announced today (May 21) by the NCBWA. It’s the first time Bugner has been named All-America.
Bugner was an NCBWA All-Region Second Team Selection, announced on May 12. He also earned Daktronics All-Region Second Team by the D2SIDA, and ABCA/Rawling All-Region First Team. Both D2SIDA and ABCA have yet to release their All-America teams.
Along with the All-America and all-region honors, Bugner was an All-Heartland Conference First Team selection for the second time in his two year career. As a freshman, he was the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year. Along with those honors, he has been named the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week.
Bugner had the best season for Newman baseball in its NCAA Division II history. He finished with the highest batting average in NU’s Division II history at .436 and had the most hits at 79. Bugner totaled a .523 on base percentage that led the Heartland Conference and ranks No. 14 in NCAA Division II this season. He is top 20 in Division II in hits, batting average and on base percentage. Bugner totaled a 22-game hitting streak during the 2015 season. He finished with a .436 average, 79 hits, 14 doubles, one triple and 30 RBI. Bugner scored 48 runs and was second in the conference with 21 stolen bases, going 21-for-22 on the season. He started all 47 games in the outfield, and he hit either first or third in the lineup all season.
He had 28 multi-hit games this season, and totaled a hit in 41 of the 47 games this season. The sophomore reached base in 43 of the 47 games.
Bugner had two games with four hits. He went 4-for-5 with three runs scored against Emporia State on Feb. 23. He also totaled four hits in a win against Oklahoma Panhandle State on March 14, going 4-for-6 with two RBI, two triples and one stolen base. He stole three bases in consecutive games against Northwestern Oklahoma State on March 24 and against Oklahoma Christian on March 27.
credit – Kansas Newman