Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Justin Durmon was a part of the Mulerider Baseball team from 1998-2001 and during that time he put together one of the best four-year careers in program history. Following his final season, Durmon became the first Southern Arkansas Baseball player in the Muleriders’ young NCAA Era (1995-96) to be named an All-America performer after Rawlings/ABCA tabbed the speedy outfielder to the its third-team in 2001.
 
A native of Atlanta, Texas, Durmon was also named a Rawlings/ABCA All-Region selection in 2001 and earned All-Gulf South Conference honors in 1999 and 2001.
 
In his final season, Durmon set a new program record for stolen bases in a single season as he swiped 50 bags. The record would stand for six years before being eclipsed by Skyler Stromsmoe who stole 52 bases in 2007. Durmon remains one of only two players to steal 50+ bases in a single season and he is one of only two SAU players to steal four bases in a game twice.
 
As much as he was a threat on the base paths, Durmon’s bat was just as potent, especially in his final season in Magnolia. In 2001, Durmon recorded a .439 batting average with 87 hits, which included ten doubles, four triples, and all seven of his career homeruns. He finished that campaign with a 1.136 OPS and struck out just 11 times in 235 plate appearances. Durmon led the team in on-base % (.500), runs scored (73), hits (87), triples (4), total bases (126), walks (26), and stolen bases (50) that season.
 
His 87 hits as a senior are seventh-most in a single season in program history and were the second-most ever at the time of the accomplishment, while his .439 average ranks eighth all-time by a Mulerider in a single campaign. At the time, Durmon’s 73 runs scored were the third-most by a Mulerider and tops in SAU’s Division II Era, and the total still ranks seventh all-time today.
           
Over four seasons, Durmon recorded 205 hits which stands as the ninth-most all-time, while his 179 runs scored rank fourth and at the time of his final season were a program record. Aiding in that run production was Durmon’s aforementioned prowess on the base paths as he finished his time as a Mulerider with 95 steals; fourth most in program history.