May 2, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - A pair of sophomore baseball players won individual American Southwest Conference awards for Hardin-Simmons, as Dalton Rucker was named pitcher of the year and Tre' Sellari was named newcomer of the year in the ASC West Division.

Rucker, who has been dominant in the last half of the season, went 7-3, with a 3.13 ERA this season. In his least six starts he is 6-0 with a 1.10 ERA and he has won seven straight starts. The sophomore out of Canyon Randall has a career record of 2.39.

Sellari stepped in as the Cowboys designated hitter midway through the season and hit .381 in league play with nine doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs. He led the league with a .794 slugging percentage.

Rucker was also named first-team All-ASC West Division and he was joined by ASC West batting crown champion Brad Coleman. Relief ace Josh Alcorn and junior outfielder Michael Simpson.

Coleman, a junior third baseman hit .486 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in league play and is hitting .390 for the season. Alcorn, a sophomore closer from Brownwood, has a school-record seven saves and he allowed only three hits and no runs, while striking out 19 batters in 16 innings of conference action. Simpson hit .418 in conference play with four home runs and 23 RBIs. The junior centerfielder from Abilene also stole three bases.

Junior catcher Blake Koch, junior outfielder Danny Ruth and Sellari were all named second-team All-ASC West Division. Trevor Bunte earned honorable mention all-league honors at shortstop.

HSU is 27-15 and will play in the American Southwest Conference Tournament this weekend in Seguin. The Cowboys play Mississippi College at 11 a.m. on Friday.