University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Russum Named National Pitcher of the Week By NCBWA
3/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Russum Named National Pitcher of the Week By NCBWA
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ?
Southern Miss junior pitcher Cliff Russum has been named the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. This is the first national pitching honor that Southern Miss has garnered this season and second overall; as senior outfielder Ryan Frith was named the National Co-Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association last week.Russum was named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball as well as the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week.
The Golden Eagles finished with a 3-1 record for the week after losing, 9-3, to Alabama on Tuesday, and sweeping Eastern Illinois in a three-game weekend series, 10-3 on Friday, 12-0 on Saturday and 11-0 on Sunday.
Russum threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in Conference USA history and sixth no-hitter in Southern Miss history on Saturday against Eastern Illinois. He struck out a career-high 15 batters and walked just three. Russum struck out 13 consecutive batters from the third inning through one out in the seventh. After giving up a walk in the seventh inning, he closed out the game by retiring the final eight batters. It was the the first nine-inning no-hitter since former Oakland Raider all-pro punter Ray Guy accomplished the feat in 1972.
In Conference USA statistics, Russum is tied for No. 1 in wins (4), No. 2 in opposing batting average (.122), No. 3 in ERA (0.64), No. 4 in batters struck out (31) and No. 8 in innings pitched (28.2).
Southern Miss hosts Southeastern Louisiana in a midweek game on Tuesday night at Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field at 6:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles start the defense of their C-USA regular season and tournament titles this weekend with a three-game series against Houston. Friday's game starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's at 3 p.m., and Sunday's at 1 p.m.
