University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Maddox and Russum Named Conference USA Players of the Week
3/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Maddox and Russum Named Conference USA Players of the Week
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ?
Southern Miss sophomore first baseman Marc Maddox and junior pitcher Cliff Russum have been named the Conference USA Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for the week ending March 14. This marks the third conference hitter of the week honor Southern Miss has garnered (Matt Shepherd - 2/22, Ryan Frith - 3/7) and first pitcher of the week distinction for the Golden Eagles this season.Southern Miss finished with a 3-1 record for the week after losing, 9-3, to Alabama on Tuesday, and sweeping Eastern Illinois in a three-game weekend series, 10-3 on Friday, 12-0 on Saturday and 11-0 on Sunday.
Maddox hit .526 (10-for-19) last week for the Golden Eagles, registering a 1.158 slugging percentage. He hit safely in all four games, registering three doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI for the week. In game one vs. Eastern Illinois on Friday, Maddox had a career high five hits and in game three, he produced a career-best six RBI. He homered in all three victories over Eastern Illinois.
In Conference USA statistics, Maddox is No. 1 in RBIs (27) and fielding percentage (1.000), tied for No. 1 in fielding double plays (16), No. 3 in putouts (158), tied for No. 4 in total bases (47), No. 5 in slugging percentage (.681), tied for No. 5 in hits (27), No. 7 in batting average (.391) and runs scored (18), No. 9 in on-base percentage (.481) and tied for 10th in home runs (4).
Russum threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in Conference USA history on Saturday against Eastern Illinois. He struck out a career-high 15 batters and walked just three. Russum struck out 13 consecutive batters from the third inning through one out in the seventh. After giving up a walk in the seventh inning, he closed out the game by retiring the final eight batters. It was the sixth no-hitter in Southern Miss history and the first nine-inning no-hitter since former Oakland Raider all-pro punter Ray Guy accomplished the feat in 1972.
In Conference USA statistics, Russum is tied for No. 1 in wins (4), No. 2 in opposing batting average (.122), No. 3 in ERA (0.64), No. 4 in batters struck out (31) and No. 8 in innings pitched (28.2).
Southern Miss hosts Southeastern Louisiana in a midweek game on Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field at 6:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles start defense of their regular season and tournament titles this weekend with a three-game series at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field against Houston. Friday's game starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 3 p.m., and Sunday's at 1 p.m.
