May 24, 2006

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Furman shortstop A.J. Davidiuk has been named 2006 Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year in voting by league baseball coaches, it was announced today.

"This is a tremendous honor for A.J. and one he has earned through a great deal of hard work and dedication," said Furman head coach Ron Smith. "He's a consummate team player and student-athlete and a great asset to our program and university."

Davidiuk (Day-vah-DUKE), a senior from Indian Trail, N.C., batted .372 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI in leading Furman to a 32-21 regular season record and 16-11, third place finish in the SoCon. He batted .430 with eight home runs and 31 RBI in conference play and was twice named league player-of-the-week, TIAA-CREF student-athlete-of-the-week, as well as conference player-of-the-month for April. He is the first Furman player to capture SoCon Player-of-the-Year honors since the league initiated the award in 1972.

Heading into Wednesday's SoCon Tournament first round game against Western Carolina, Davidiuk ranked first in Furman career doubles (54), second in career hits (263), fourth in career runs (155) and RBI (146), and ninth in career home runs (24).

He is a member of the 2006 Furman senior class that has posted a 115-107 record -- the winningest four-year stretch in Furman baseball history. He sports a 3.59 grade point average in neuroscience.