The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
DePew, Nance Earn C-USA All-Academic Team Honors
5/21/2012 12:00:00β―AM | Baseball
May 21, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- UAB baseball players Keith DePew and Ryan Nance were named to the 11 player Conference USA All-Academic team announced by the league office on Monday.
It marked the third straight season that two Blazers were recognized for their success in the classroom and on the field.
Keith DePew, Sr., 2B
DePew earned C-USA All-Academic team honors for back-to-back seasons and is one of two repeat honorees on this season's 11 player academic squad. He is also just the second two-time all-academic team recipient for UAB, joining former Blazer James Oliver who garnered the award in 2008 and 2009.
In the classroom, DePew maintained a 3.92 grade-point average, while pursuing a double major in history and high school education. He twice was name to the Capital One Academic All-District IV team and a five-time UAB Presidential Honor winner.
Additionally, the Trussville, Ala., native is a four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Academic Medal recipient and concluded his senior year with the highest GPA amongst all senior student-athletes at UAB. It marked the fifth consecutive year that a UAB baseball player garnered the distinguished award.
On the diamond, DePew played in 54 games, making 50 starts, totaling a .287 batting average with 17 RBI. He scored 25 runs and totaled 10 sacrifice bunts, tied or second in the conference.
Defensively, DePew finished fourth in fielding double plays out of all C-USA players and totaled 130 assists, tops on the Blazers.
Ryan Nance, Sr., RHP
Nance concluded his two-year stint at UAB with a 3.41 GPA as a marketing major after transferring from Hinds Community College.
The two-time Commissioner's Honor Roll selection, ended the regular season with a team-high 23 appearances and eight saves. In total, Nance has tallied consecutive eight-save seasons, to give him 16 for his career, ranking second all-time at in UAB lore.
He posted a 3-3 record with a 4.24 ERA over 40.1 innings on the mound. Nance has held opponents to a .258 batting average and totaled 32 strikeouts.
The Brandon, Miss., native, pitched in two of UAB's three shutouts this season and made his first collegiate start at No. 5 Rice on May 13. He held the potent Owls offense to just one earned run over five innings in a no decision. The Blazers eventually won the contest in 12 innings.
UAB is slated to play its first game at the C-USA Tournament in Pearl, Miss., on Thursday against the UCF Knights. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.
