SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University standout Matt Adams was named Wednesday as the "Player of the Year" in both Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division and Daktronics Inc. Atlantic Region balloting.

Adams was selected as the top player in the PSAC-West in voting by the division's head coaches. He received the Daktronics all-region honor from the region's sports information directors.

A junior from Philipsburg and graduate of Philipsburg-Osceola High School, Adams was one of seven Rock players named to All-PSAC-West honors and one of five SRU student-athletes who received first-team all-conference honors.

Adams was the only Rock player named to Daktronics all-region honors.

Joining Adams on the All-PSAC-West first team were seniors Scott Bender (outfield) and Rich Michalek (outfield) and juniors Scott Dunn (starting pitcher) and Billy Messer (second base).

Rock juniors Vince Lloyd (starting pitcher) and Jacob Oswalt (outfield) were afforded second-team All-PSAC-West honors. 

Adams compiled the highest batting average by an NCAA Division II player this spring when he hit a school-record .495. He also ranked fifth nationally in on base percentage with a .566 mark, eighth in both slugging percentage (.853) and total doubles (24), ninth in doubles per game (0.47) and 10th in total hits (91).

Adams, who ranked 12th in total bases with 157, also ranked in the top 50 nationally in six other statistical categories: runs per game (1.25, 34th), total runs (64, 35th), runs batted in per game (1.25, 37th), runs batted in (64, 40th), total home runs (14, 48th) and home runs per game (0.27, 49th).

Adams set a new school record for single-season slugging percentage (old mark: .807 by Brad Lowe, 1998) and tied the SRU single-season record for hits (91 by Joe Neidrick, 2003) and doubles (24, Adams, 2007).

He is expected to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft in early June. If he signs a professional contract and does not return to SRU for his senior season, he will also depart with the school's career batting average and slugging percentage records. His current career batting average of .454 is 51 points higher than the exisiting mark of .403 set by Sal Agostinelli (19981-83). His career slugging percentage of .749 is over 100 points higher than the current mark of .640 held by John Samsa (1981-83). 

Bender, a senior from New Castle and Neshannock High School, ranked 28th nationally in triples with five. He missed the final 17 games of the season with a knee injury but finished the season with a .395 batting average, seven doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBIs in addition to his team-high triples total.

Dunn, who hails from Hookstown and Southside Beaver High School, finished the 2009 season with a 7-3 record, 3.82 ERA and a team-high 59 strikeouts and only 16 bases on balls in 61.1 innings.

Lloyd, a right-hander from New Brighton and Beaver Falls High School, ranked 42nd in strikeouts per nine innings (9.72) and 45th in victories (8). He finished the season witn an 8-1 record, 3.19 ERA and 58 strikeouts and 24 bases on balls in 53.2 innings.

Messer, who hails from Slippery Rock and is a Slippery Rock High School graduate, batted .344 and had 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 37 RBIs this spring.

Michalek, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Central Catholic High School, batted .375 and had 15 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 45 RBIs. He also led the team with 21 stolen bases in 24 attempts.

Oswalt, a South Fork native and Forest Hills High School graduate, batted .379 and had 15 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 43 RBIs this spring.

The nine All-PSAC-West performers led The Rock to a 36-15 overall record and a third-place finish in the PSAC-West standings.