University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Tubb and Willcutt Named Preseason All-Americans
11/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Tubb and Willcutt Named Preseason All-Americans
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Southern Miss relief pitcher Austin Tubb and catcher Brad Willcutt were named to the 2004 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's preseason All-America team, announced today by the organization.
Tubb, a second-team selection, and Willcutt, a third-team honoree, were two of five players from Conference USA to make the three-team squad. East Carolina outfielder Darryl Lawhorn was named to the second team and Louisville outfielder Mark Jurich and TCU's starting pitcher Clayton Jerome rounded out the third team. Tubb, a senior from Hoover, Ala., was named to the organization's All-America third-team during the 2003 spring. The Golden Eagles' closer finished with a 3-2 record and a 1.45 ERA in 31 innings pitched. He struck out 30, walked nine and collected 10 saves. Opponents only hit .196 against him last season. Willcutt, a two-year starter from Columbus, Miss., was a key part of a Southern Miss offense that was one of the most explosive in school history. He was third on the team with a .325 batting average, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 61 runs. Willcutt ranked second in the league with 20 doubles and he scored 52 runs, en route to earning second team all-league honors. He posted a .550 slugging percentage and a .414 on-base percentage. Southern Miss returns 17 letterwinners and two redshirts, including six starting position players, two starting pitchers, and five bullpen pitchers from last year?s squad that finished 47-16 overall and won the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships. Southern Miss hosted the Hattiesburg Regional, finishing as the runner-up. The Golden Eagles set a record for the most wins in a season and the most wins in conference action as well. The Golden Eagles open their Conference USA title defense on Friday, Feb. 20 at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field against Northwestern State, La., at 3 p.m.
