LUBBOCK, Texas – University of South Alabama baseball infielder Drew LaBounty was named to the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award watch list, and right-hander Kevin Hill was named to the 2016 National Pitcher of the Year watch list, as announced by the National College Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday.

LaBounty is the only Sun Belt Conference representative on the list, which consists of 54 student-athletes nationwide. The award is sponsored by Mizuno, and honors the nation's top shortstop. It will be presented as part of the annual Night of Champions celebration on July 2 in Lubbock.

LaBounty enters the weekend tied for the SBC lead in sacrifice flies (6), ranks second in walks (29), third in stolen bases (10), fourth in on-base percentage (.455) and tied for seventh in RBI (30). He also leads South Alabama with a .331 batting average in 37 games, and has recorded seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 29 runs scored. The Pensacola, Fla., native is hitting .344 with three doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, 13 runs scored and five stolen bases in 18 SBC contests. LaBounty has recorded a team-best 12 multiple-hit games, and has driven in multiple runs in five contests this season.

Hill (7-1) is also the lone SBC representative on the National Pitcher of the Year watch list, which is sponsored by Diamond and will also be given on July 2 at the Night of Champions in Lubbock. Hill, the 2016 SBC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, leads the conference in strikeouts (78) and ERA (1.78), and is tied for the league lead in innings pitched (70.2) and wins (7) in nine total starts. His 78 strikeouts ranks tied for sixth nationally, and is just two behind the nation's leader at 80. Hill has tossed three complete games and combined for one shutout this season.

In SBC contests, he is 5-0 with a 1.46 ERA in five starts, and has struck out 47 batters and issued 10 walks in 49 1/3 innings pitched while also tossing two complete games. Hill, who was also named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason watch list on Wednesday, currently ranks sixth in career strikeouts (278) at USA, and is just 20 shy of passing former Jaguar right-hander Jon Lieber (298) for fourth on the all-time list.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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