GRAMBLING, La. | Four Grambling State baseball student-athletes earned postseason recognition, being named to the Black College Nines Large School Elite Team. Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Communications Curtis Ford was named the Baseball Sports Information Director of the Year.
Kyle Walker,
Julian Murphy and
Mason Martinez landed on the first team, while
Cameron Bufford earned second team honors.
Walker, a second baseman from New Orleans, La., is one of the elite hitters in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He's currently batting .394 with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 41 RBI. He ranks in the top five in seven hitting categories in the SWAC. He's first in on base percentage (.522), second in batting average, second in OPS (1.149), third in home runs, third in runs scored (71), fourth in slugging percentage (.627) and fourth in total hits (76). Walker ranked second on the team in stolen bases with 14.
Murphy was a big bat for GSU, contributing primarily as a designated hitter. The Jackson, Miss. native batted .345 with 42 RBI, six doubles, four triples and four home runs. He sports a slugging percentage of .503 and an OPS of .933.
Martinez has proven to be one of the best pitchers in the SWAC, sporting an overall record of 12-2, the most in the SWAC. He sports an ERA of 4.33, the fifth best in the conference. He's also second in the conference with 85 strikeouts in 112.1 innings pitched. He also limits the power of opposing hitters, surrendering four home runs, the second least in the SWAC.
Bufford earned second team honors following a dominant season that culminated in a SWAC title and trip to the NCAA Regionals. Bufford set the all-time career home run mark at Grambling State this season. He set the record on March 2 versus Florida A&M and currently sits at 45 career homers. The South Holland, Ill. native is batting .349 with 56 RBI, nine doubles, one triple and six home runs. He sports slugging percentage of .547 and an OPS of .1.016.
Ford, who was named the Black College Nines Sports Information Director of the Year, has been on the athletic staff at Grambling State since September 2021, arriving from Florida A&M. He was elevated to Associate AD in January of 2023. Since arriving at GSU, he's been the primary contact for the baseball program, promoting the team on social media in addition to managing the athletic website and serving as a photographer, statistician and public address announcer for all home games. He is a member of College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Selections were made based upon statistical information, mid-season reports including research provided by Black College Nines and both coaching staffs and their sports information directors. Player, pitcher and coach of the year awards were voted upon by Black College Nines and members of the national media.
To view the full postseason team and recognitions please visit
BlackCollegeNines.com.
FOLLOW GRAMBLING STATE ATHLETICS
For complete coverage of Grambling State athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gsu_tigers1 (Facebook), @gramblingathletics (Instagram), or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
