April 21, 2004

Contact: Keith Gentry at (901) 333-4114 -- Kimberly Stark at (901) 333-4023 or (901) 489-4771 – Cell

BUFORD NAMED TJCCAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Southwest pitcher Drew Buford, who has set the college’s single season and career records for appearances and saves, has been named the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week for April 11-17.

Buford, a sophomore from McGhee, Arkansas, had three appearances against Cleveland State last weekend, earning one win and two saves. In the first game of the series on Friday night, Buford came in the game with bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning. After a suicide squeeze scored a run on his first pitch, he proceeded to hold Cleveland State scoreless through the 11th inning before Southwest scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the inning. On Saturday afternoon, Buford saved both games, giving him eight for the season and 14 for his career – both Southwest records. He also holds school records for appearances in a season with 25 and in a career with 43.

On the season, Buford has compiled a 3-3 record with a team-leading 2.12 earned run average. He also leads the entire conference with 25 appearances, is second in strikeouts with an average of 12.0 per nine innings, and allows opponents to bat only .211 against him.

Buford has signed to play next season at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas.

Southwest, Tennessee’s largest two-year college, serves more than 12,000 students in Memphis, Shelby and Fayette counties, and the Tri-State area.