Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Montgomery, Dray selected to MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
06/03/2013 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
June 3, 2013
ST. LOUIS - Saluki pitcher Tyler Dray and outfielder Austin Montgomery were voted to the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First Team, the conference announced Monday. The Salukis are tied for the second most players on the 12-player team, which is voted on by the conference's baseball sports information directors. This marks the first time since 2007 that SIU has placed multiple student-athletes on the first team.
It is the second First-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete honor for Montgomery and the first for Dray, who was an honorable mention in 2012.
Dray, a left-handed reliever, spent the season as a reliable set-up man out of the bullpen. He led the team and was third in the conference with 27 appearances. The junior posted a 1.67 ERA and recorded 23 strikeouts in 27 innings of work. Earlier this month, Dray was named an All-Conference honorable mention. A native of Rockford, Ill., he has a cumulative GPA of 3.82 and is majoring in accounting.
Montgomery tied for third in the Valley with a .350 batting average. The senior also finished in the top five in the conference in slugging percentage, hits, RBI, doubles, home runs and total bases. In addition, he was a three-time MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week recipient this season. He was also a Second-Team All-MVC selection this season. A native of Marion, Ill., Montgomery holds a 3.46 GPA and is scheduled to graduate this summer with a degree in mechanical engineering.
To be eligible for the team, nominees must be starters or important reserves, with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average. Student-athletes also must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.
