Mobile, Ala. --- The Sun Belt Conference announced its annual baseball honors for 2002 this evening at the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament banquet in Mobile, Ala. Florida International University's Brad Eldred was named the league's Player of the Year and was a unanimous pick to the all-Sun Belt Conference Baseball First Team at first base. Western Kentucky University's Ryan Bicondoa was named Pitcher of the Year and was also a unanimous pick to the all-conference First Team. Kevin Kouzmanoff, the third baseman for Arkansas-Little Rock, picked up Newcomer of the Year honors, while Florida International's Derek DeCarlo won the Freshman of the Year award. The awards were voted on by the league's head coaches.

For only the second time in his illustrious career, Western Kentucky head coach Joel Murrie has been named the Ron Maestri Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Murrie led the 2002 Hilltoppers to a third place finish in the league with a 14-9 conference record and 36-18 overall record. Murrie also received the award in 1985, one of the first years that Western Kentucky was a member of the Sun Belt. Murrie picked up his 700th career win this season.  The annual coach of the year award is named for long-time University of New Orleans baseball coach and athletics director Ron Maestri. Maestri was in attendance to present the award to Murrie.

The University of South Alabama picked up its regular season championship trophy at the tournament Banquet. USA begins defense of its 2000 and 2001 Sun Belt Tournament titles on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. (CT) against Middle Tennessee.

Eldred, a senior, is among the nation's leaders in home runs with 27 and is hitting .376 going into the tournament. He is also a candidate for the Rawlings Home Run Challenge on June 13 in Omaha at the College World Series. Bicondoa, a senior, is one of the top pitchers in the country with 138 strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA. He is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top player in collegiate baseball.

DeCarlo is a right-handed pitcher for the Golden Panthers with an 11-0 record and 3.19 ERA in 14 appearances. He is one of the only undefeated pitchers left in NCAA Division I. Kouzmanoff ended the season hitting .364 for the Trojans.

Joining Eldred and Bicondoa on the first team as a unanimous selection are Florida International catcher Tommy Duenas and South Alabama outfielder Ryan Mulhern.

The following players round out the Sun Belt Conference First Team: pitcher - Andy Gros (Jr., UL Lafayette); relief pitcher - Matt Wilhite (Jr., WKU); second baseman - Gabe Veloz (Sr., NMSU); shortstop - Corey Harrington (Sr., NMSU); third baseman - Tanner Townsend (Sr., WKU); outfielders - Corey Coles (So., UL Lafayette) and Justin Sims (Jr., MT); designated hitter - Chris Adams (Fr., UNO); and utility player - Josh Archer (Fr., MT).