LIVINGSTON, Ala. – West Alabama relief pitcher Judah Buckner capped off an exceptional season with national recognition, earning a spot on the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) Third Team All-American list.
A lockdown presence out of the bullpen all season long, Buckner posted a microscopic 1.99 ERA and an impressive 0.79 WHIP across 22.2 innings. He finished with a 2-1 record, tallied 33 strikeouts, and secured six saves in 20 appearances, all in relief.
Buckner's performance in Gulf South Conference play was nothing short of historic. The senior right-hander did not allow a single earned run across 14.1 innings of league action, giving up just two hits and striking out 18 batters, while holding opponents to an eye-popping .047 batting average.
Opponents rarely found success against Buckner, who did not allow a home run all season and held hitters to a minuscule .135 average overall. He was instrumental in helping the Tigers reach the NCAA South Region Championship, their deepest postseason run in recent years.
Buckner becomes the first West Alabama pitcher to earn NCBWA All-American honors since the 2017 season, solidifying his place as one of Division II's premier bullpen arms.
