17 Jul 2024 UCA pitcher named a CSC Academic All-American again

CONWAY — University of Central Arkansas pitcher Jesse Barker was named a CSC Academic All-American for the second consecutive year on July 2. 

Barker, a graduate student from Benton, Ark., earned first-team honors for the second straight season, the only student-athlete on the list to accomplish that and one of just five who made one of the first, second or third teams last season.

Barker was named the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time ASUN All-Academic selection. Barker led the ASUN in strikeouts (119) and innings pitched (108.2) and was fourth in earned-run average (3.40). He broke the UCA career record for strikeouts, finishing his career with 287 strikeouts, three better than Tyler Gray (2015-18). Barker also pitched 11 scoreless innings in the 2024 ASUN Championship, helping the Bears to the semifinals.

Barker was the co-ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year for baseball in 2023.

Barker was joined on the All-Academic first team by the likes of Florida’s Jac Caglione, Oregon State’s Travis Bazanna, Arizona State’s Ryan Campos, North Carolina’s Vance Honeycutt and East Carolina’s Trey Yesavage. The 33-man team (first through third teams) has a 3.78 average cumulative GPA with the first team checking in at 3.73. Three of the six student-athletes with perfect 4.0 cumulative GPAs this year are first team honorees, including Barker.