Missouri State sophomore designated hitter Ben Carlson has earned a spot on the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII team, it was announced Thursday.

Carlson leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs and ranks second in the league with a .407 batting average. The sophomore carries a 3.90 GPA in general business, and has started all 47 games for the 33-14 Bears at DH.

The Topeka, Kan., native has been honored previously this season as the MVC’s Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Week for his performance the week of April 14-20, and is bidding to become the second player in league history to win the Triple Crown.

Carlson now advances to the national ballot with a chance to become Missouri State’s 12th academic all-American in baseball.