SAN MARCOS, Texas – University of South Alabama baseball right-hander Kevin Hill was named the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, as announced by the league at Tuesday's Family Fun Night at Bobcat Ballpark.

Hill (8-1) became the first student-athlete in the conference's history to twice win the award as the league's top pitcher after also being named the SBC Pitcher of the Year last season. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native led the league in strikeouts (117) for the second straight year as well as in innings pitched (109.2). Hill ended the regular season ranked second in the conference in wins (8), and third in ERA (2.38) and opposing batting average (.214).

In addition, Hill was named first-team all-SBC along with center fielder Cole Billingsley and shortstop Drew LaBounty. Billingsley led the league in stolen bases (30) for the second consecutive season, and also closed the regular season as the league leader in sacrifice flies (8). Drew LaBounty led the SBC in walks (51) in the regular season, ranked second in on-base percentage (.450) and sacrifice flies (6), fourth in stolen bases (14) and tied for seventh in runs scored (43).

South Alabama also received its trophy for earning a share of its 16th SBC championship after finishing 21-9 in league play, which marked USA's third conference title in the last four years.

Little Rock's Ryan Scott was named the SBC Student-Athlete of the Year, Louisiana-Lafayette right-hander Nick Lee was named the Freshman of the Year and Little Rock head coach Chris Curry was voted the Ron Maestri Coach of the Year.

No. 2 seed South Alabama (38-18, 21-9) will open the 2016 SBC Tournament against No. 7 seed Texas-Arlington at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bobcat Ballpark.

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).

—USA—

All-Sun Belt Baseball First Team
Gunner Leger (UL Lafayette, Sophomore, SP)
Kevin Hill (South Alabama, RS-Senior, SP)
Grant Bennett (Troy, Senior, SP)
Dylan Moore (UL Lafayette, Sophomore, RP)
Brady Cox (UT Arlington, Junior, C)
Tanner Hill (Texas State, Senior, 1B)
Darien McLemore (UT Arlington, Senior, 2B)
Drew LaBounty (South Alabama, RS-Sophomore, SS)
Tanner Ring (Arkansas State, Senior, 3B)
Ryan Scott (Little Rock, Senior, OF)
Kyle Clement (UL Lafayette, Senior, OF)
Cole Billingsley (South Alabama, RS-Junior, OF)
Cory Geisler (Texas State, Senior, UTIL)
Dalton Thomas (Little Rock, Junior, DH)
 
All-Sun Belt Baseball Second Team
Evan Challenger (Georgia Southern, Junior, SP)
Kadon Simmons (UT Arlington, Junior, SP)
Lucas Brown (Troy, Senior, SP)
Pasquale Mazzoccoli (Texas State, Senior, RP)
Joey Roach (Georgia State, Senior, C)
Ryan Cleveland (Georgia Southern, Junior, 1B)
Hayden Martin (Little Rock, Senior, 2B)
Matt Vernon (Appalachian State, Junior, SS)
Jarrett Hood (Georgia State, Junior, 3B)
Quintin Rohrbaugh (UT Arlington, Junior, OF)
Granger Studdard (Texas State, Junior, OF)
Joey Denison (Troy, Junior, OF)
Joe Schrimpf (Arkansas State, Junior, UTIL)
Colton Turner (UT Arlington, Junior, DH)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year
Ryan Scott (Little Rock, Senior, OF)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Pitcher of the Year
Kevin Hill (South Alabama, RS-Senior, SP)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Freshman of the Year
Nick Lee (UL Lafayette, Freshman, SP)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Chris Curry, Little Rock