NCBWA All-America Team
 
PEMBROKE, N.C. – Slippery Rock University junior second baseman Jon Kozarian added to his list of postseason accomplishments Thursday when he was named an All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
 
Thursday's accolade marks the first All-America honor of Kozarian's collegiate career.
  
The All-America award adds to a lengthy list of postseason accomplishments for Kozarian this spring. He has already been named a first team All-Atlantic Region performer by both the NCBWA and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and figures to also be an odds-on favorite to earn the same accreditation by the American Baseball Coaches Association in the coming weeks.
 
Prior to his all-region honors, Kozarian was also a first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division selection at second base.
 
Kozarian was one of four student-athletes from the PSAC West to be recognized on the NCBWA All-America Team along with Seton Hill outfielder Tommy Pellis (second team), Pitt-Johnstown starting pitcher Dylan Heid (second team) and Mercyhurst relief pitcher Michael Krauza (honorable mention).
 
The Pittsburgh native and Baldwin High School graduate is the 20th athlete in Slippery Rock baseball history to receive All-America adulation. He is also one of two second baseman in program history to earn such lofty recognition; Alan Reichl was also a third team All-American in 2003.
 
SRU has now had All-American's in nine of the last 10 years that postseason awards have been distributed: there were no honors last year due to the season being canceled. Matt Howard started the run of Slippery Rock All-Americans in 2011 and has been followed by current Oakland A's pitcher Lou Trivino (2012), Will Kengor (2013, 2014), Adam Urbania (2015), Tyler Walters (2016, 2018), Joe Campagna (2019) and now Kozarian (2021).
 
Kozarian enjoyed a breakout year as one of the top hitters in the region. In 37 starts, Kozarian batted .421 with 34 runs scored, six home runs, 28 RBI, seven stolen bases, a.727 slugging percentage and a .482 on-base percentage.
 
In addition to leading The Rock in nearly every statistical category, Kozarian was the PSAC's leader in batting average while also ranking second in doubles (17), second in hits (51) and fifth in slugging percentage. Kozarian, who has now started 90 consecutive games in his career, registered 15 multi-hit games, eight multi-RBI contests and hit .517 with runners in scoring position.
 
Nationally, Kozarian ranked 18th in the nation in doubles per game, 19th in total doubles and 26th in batting average.

One of three All-Americans at second base in addition to first teamer Hector Ruvalcaba (Oklahoma Baptist) and second team selection Jake Barlow (Delta State), Kozarian led the trio in batting average, doubles, on-base percentage and stolen bases.

Slippery Rock finished the season with an overall record of 23-14. The Rock has now had winning seasons in 32 of the last 36 years under head coach Jeff Messer.
 
 
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