SIU Lands Two From Du Quoin on All-Conference

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Southern Illinois University landed four on the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Team, announced Monday. Du Quoin natives Tyler Bullock and Bryant George earned first-team honors for the Dawgs.

Bullock garnered all-conference honors as a designated hitter. He tore through Valley play, hitting .386 with 14 runs scored, five doubles, eight home runs and 23 RBI in 19 league starts. Bullock, after hitting only .105 in early March, steadily boosted his batting average to .296 on the year. He also became the first Saluki to hit 10 home runs in a season since Sal Frisella and Toby Barnett did it in 2003.

George, who became SIU's all-time career leader in saves on April 14 (at Southeast Missouri State), compiled a 3-0 record with three saves and a 0.87 ERA in eight MVC appearances. He ranks third in the conference with seven saves and is a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities this year.

Senior catcher Mark Kelly (Hanover Park, Ill.) and freshman first baseman Chris Serritella (Glenview, Ill.) took honorable mention honors.

Kelly leads the Salukis in hits (68), doubles (15), RBI (37) and total bases (95). He is second on the team with a .330 batting average and leads the club with 20 multiple-hit games. Defensively, Kelly has gunned down 50 percent (21-of-42) of would-be base stealers this season.

Serritella has been the Salukis' leader in batting average nearly all season. He is currently hitting .336 with 30 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples and 24 RBI in 42 starts. Serritella boasts a team-high .422 on-base percentage, as well.

MVC regular-season champion Missouri State took three of the conference's four specialty awards. Brayden Drake was named the Joe Carter Player of the Year, Buddy Baumann was Pitcher of the Year and Kevin Medrano was Freshman of the Year. Northern Iowa's Travis Bennett earned Newcomer of the Year accolades.

The Valley's Coach of the Year will be announced during the pre-tournament banquet at the Wichita Marriott Hotel Tuesday night. The 2009 State Farm MVC Tournament will then begin Wednesday. No. 5 SIU will face No. 4 Creighton at 11 a.m., CT, in first-round action.