May 23, 2006

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss baseball team placed eight players on the 2006 All-Conference USA teams, according to the league office on Tuesday, with Toddric Johnson and Marc Maddox on first team, Daniel Best, Kevin Coker and Trey Sutton making the second team, and Luke Adkins, Brian Dozier and Michael Ewing being named to the All-Freshman team.

With the two first-team selections, Southern Miss now has 24 first-team selections (2, 2006, 3, 2005, 4, 2004, 2, 2003, 3, 2002, 3, 2000, 2, 1999, 2, 1998, 3, 1997) and 23 second-team selections (3, 2006, 2, 2005, 1, 2004, 2, 2003, 1, 2002, 2, 2001, 2, 2000, 2, 1999, 3, 1998, 2, 1997, 3, 1996). This year's three freshmen selections to the All-Freshman team gives Southern Miss 17 honorees, and most since 2002 (3, 2006, 1, 2005, 2, 2004, 1, 2003, 4, 2002, 1, 2000, 1, 1999, 4, 1996).

Johnson, playing in his first season for Southern Miss as its starting outfielder, led the team during the regular season in hits (85), runs scored (61) and on-base percentage (.451), while batting .366 with 10 doubles, three triples, four stolen bases, 10 home runs and 47 RBIs and has also earned C-USA Hitter of the Week honors during the regular season.

Maddox earns first-team honors for the second season, as well as earning All-Freshman honors in 2003. The senior third baseman leads the team in home runs (18), RBIs (67), total bases (133) and slugging percentage (.610). The Hattiesburg, Miss., native, also was named C-USA Hitter of the Week during the season. For his career, Maddox ranks No. 1 in the school's history in home runs (53) and runs scored (226), is tied for first in total bases (505), ranks No. 2 in RBIs (209), No. 3 in hits (287) and games played (238), No. 4 in at bats (867) and No. 5 in walks (119).

Best, the team's senior closer, earns All-Conference USA honors for the second time in his career, as he was a first-team selection in 2005. The school's all-time saves leader (23) has made 27 appearances with 11 saves, registering a 6-2 record with a 1.88 ERA. He has pitched 48 innings while giving up 11 runs, 10 earned, on 39 hits while walking nine and striking out 49 with opponents hitting .219 against him.

Coker, the Golden Eagles starting catcher, earned All-Conference USA honors for the first time in his career. The Vicksburg, Miss. native is batting .328 with eight doubles, five home runs and 38 RBIs while creating a .445 on-base percentage. Coker holds the season record for being hit by pitch after being hit 20 times this season, and defensively, has 336 putouts and has thrown out 20 runners.

Sutton earns his second straight second-team all-conference selection, along with his All-Freshman selection also in 2005. The starting second baseman leads the team with a .371 batting average, while also recording the second-most hits on the team (78), along with 12 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs.

Adkins, the team's starting left fielder, is tied for the fourth most home runs on the team (8), along with nine doubles and 40 RBIs.

In his first season, Ewing owns the team's fifth best batting average (.327), along with a team-leading 15 doubles, eight home runs and 40 RBIs with a .571 slugging percentage.

Dozier, the Golden Eagles starting shortstop, has the third best batting average (.362) on the team, while also posting the second-most stolen bases (11) and triples (4), along with eight doubles and has a .435 on-base percentage.

Southern Miss will face Memphis in the opening round of the C-USA Baseball Championship hosted by Rice on Wednesday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas.