TOWSON, Md. --- Biola center fielder Benji Sutherland has been to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America® College Division Baseball Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and announced on Tuesday morning.

Sutherland, a junior from Orange, had the third-highest GPA of any member of the third-team with a 3.88 GPA in his pursuit of a Biblical Studies degree. Sutherland also excelled on the field, ranking second on the team with a .333 batting average. He led the Eagles with 49 runs, 18 doubles and two triples and added 73 hits, 28 RBIs, three home runs and was 10-of-12 in stolen base attempts.  Sutherland was the lone player on the team to start all 55 games for Biola this season.

Sutherland was one of 33 student-athletes selected to the College Division Academic All-America® team, which is comprised of the NAIA, Canadian and junior colleges players throughout the country. Sutherland was one of four GSAC players on the team including Westmont's Colby Cress (Sr., 3.95 GPA) and Vanguard's Brandon Young (Sr., 3.81 GPA) who were first-team selections.

Sutherland becomes Biola's eighth Academic All-American® and the first baseball player to receive the honor. He is also the second male athlete from Biola to earn Academic All-America® honors. 

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.

To view the complete 2012 College Division Baseball Academic All-American team, click here (PDF).