May 20, 2000

Furman Baseball had five players named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament team Saturday after finishing second in the Southern Conference Tournament.

The Paladins ousted ETSU, College of Charleston, and The Citadel before being eliminated by Georgia Southern in Saturday's championship game.

Sophomore right-hander Corey Etheridge started two games for Furman during the tournament. He struck out 12 in seven innings against ETSU but did not recieve a decision in the 3-2 win. On Saturday, Etheridge threw a complete game allowing only three hits in the 11-1 victory over The Citadel.

Danny Rueckel batted .429 posting 3 doubles and one of only two home runs hit in the tournament. He scored five runs, had six RBI and was perfect in the field. Rueckel also earned a win for the Paladins giving up no earned runs in seven innings of relief pitching against UNC Greensboro.

Freshmen Cole Hubka and Clint Hill started all six tournament games for the Paladins. Hubka batted .273 with three doubles during the tournament. Hill posted a .391 average and led the team with 7 RBI.

Sophomore Ryan Presnell batted .250 with two doubles and six RBI during the tournament.

Southern Conference All-Tournament Team:  

P- Corey Etheridge, Furman

C- Ed Sparks, East Tennessee State

1B- Chris Behne, Appalachian State

2B- Matt Easterday, Georgia Southern

SS- Danny Rueckel, Furman

3B- Cole Hubka, Furman

OF- J.R. Revere, Georgia Southern

OF- Clint Hill, Furman

OF- Josh Edgeworth, College of Charleston

DH- Ryan Presnell, Furman

MVP- Matt Easterday, Georgia Southern