Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Eldred and DeCarlo take home top Sun Belt Conference awards

IU Baseball takes two top awards at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Banquet in Mobile, AL.

Senior Brad Eldred (Coconut Creek/Coconut Creek HS) won the Player of the Year after hitting a conference leading 27 home runs and 65 RBI. The first baseman becomes the second FIU player to win the award (Al Corbeil, 2000).

Pitcher Derek DeCarlo (Miami/Southridge HS) won Freshman of the Year honors, following his perfect 11-0 record, which leads the conference, and 3.19 ERA. The right-hander is also the second school player to win the award (Ozzie Lugo, 2000).

The Sun Belt voted Eldred an unanimous first-team selection for the second consecutive year at first base. With his 27 home runs, the senior has tied the conference single season record with Rob Tomberlin (Western Kentucky, 1985) and tied for 2nd all-time in SBC history with 42 (Jeff Kennedy Jacksonville 84-86).

Junior Tommy Duenas (Miami/Coral Gables HS) was also tabbed a first-team conference unanimous selection. The catcher has a team leading .408 batting average, adding 54 RBI and 10 home runs.

DeCarlo took second-team all-conference honors after winning his third player of the week award this past weekend. The freshman leads the team in every pitching category, including strikeouts (87) and innings pitched (90.1).

FIU (39-16) starts tournament play on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. (ET) as the No. 4 seed against No. 5 New Orleans at Stanky Field in Mobile, AL.