2012 (SENIOR): Made 27 appearances, all in relief...Posted a 6-4 record with a staff-high nine saves...His six wins also led the staff...Finished with a 2.96 earned run average...Tossed 45.2 innings and fanned 43 batters...Struck out a season-high nine batters after tossing 7.1 scoreless innings in relief in a 15-inning marathon win over Urbana (Mar. 4)...He broke the school record for career saves on Mar. 17 at North Georgia and holds the record with 17.
2011 (JUNIOR): Made 27 appearances and posted a record of 7-3 and tallied eight saves...Tied for first in the Peach Belt in appearances, third in saves and fifth in strikeouts with 81...Tossed 62.1 innings and posted a staff-best 3.03 earned run average...Fanned a season-high seven batters twice - at West Florida (Feb. 12) and at North Georgia (Apr. 29)...Earned first save for Flagler vs. No. 2 Florida Southern (Feb. 16) after striking out four batters in 1.1 innings...Had a 28.2 inning scoreless streak (Mar. 17-Apr. 17)...Named Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week three times (Feb. 8, Mar. 1, Apr. 11).
2010 (SOPHOMORE): Attended Des Moines (Iowa) Area Community College...Made 11 appearances with nine starts and four complete games... and ...Went 5-2 with a 4.72 ERA and struck out 36 batters in 47.2 innings pitched...Struck out a season-high seven batters in six innings of work in a win at Ellsworth CC (Apr. 18)...Tossed a two-hitter and fanned six at North Iowa Area CC (Apr. 26)...Played for former Flagler assistant coach Dan Fitzgerald at DMACC.
2009 (FRESHMAN): Attended Jamestown (N.D.) College...Appeared in three games and tossed 7.2 innings...Struck out eight batters and posted a 5.87 ERA...Made debut vs. Bethel (Feb. 26) and fanned two in one inning of relief.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Fargo (N.D.) South High School...Lettered three years in baseball...Had a 1.50 career ERA and struck out 150 batters...Threw a no-hitter...Was a two-time all-conference and all-state selection...Named the Eastern Dakota Conference's Player of the Year in 2008 while playing for Fargo Post #2.
PERSONAL: Son of Joel and Karen Rusch...Majoring in business...Has a brother...Likes to play video games in his spare time...Lists "Snatch" as his favorite movie...His favorite athlete is former NHL star Mark Messier...His favorite food is pasta.
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