May 1, 2006

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss junior outfielder Toddric Johnson was named the Conference USA Co-Hitter of the Week and senior right-hander Cliff Russum was named the Pitcher of the Week, today, announced by the league office. Tulane's Mark Hamilton also was named the co-hitter of the week.

Johnson hit .455 (10-for-22) in the Golden Eagles 4-1 week with three multiple-hit games. He had his first multiple home run game on Saturday at Marshall, adding a double and five RBI in the contest. Johnson had two doubles and three home runs on the week, finishing with 21 total bases for a .955 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage. He drove in eight runs and also scored eight times.

Hamilton hit .357 (5-for-14) with a 1.214 slugging percentage, courtesy of four home runs during Tulane's 3-1 week. He opened the week with a pair of home runs and four RBI against Northwestern State and also homered in each of Tulane's wins at East Carolina. Hamilton's homer on Friday tied the game up and his bomb on Sunday proved to be the game-winner. He drove in nine runs on the week and scored seven runs.

Russum threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout at Marshall on Sunday in the Golden Eagles 5-0 win to earn his second Pitcher of the Week award this season. He struck out six and walked four, retiring 18 of the final 21 batters that he faced. It was Russum's second complete game and first shutout of the season, pitching a one-hitter at UAB earlier this season. This marked his sixth complete game of his career and his sixth shutout game he has pitched in (4 shutouts by himself).

Southern Miss hosts East Carolina for a three-game Conference USA weekend series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field. Friday's game starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 4 p.m., and Sunday's at 1 p.m.