North Carolina Central University Athletics

2014:  Made 23 relief appearances in his final season to set the modern era record with 76, finishing the season with a team-best 2.88 ERA in 34.1 innings.  Allowed only nine earned runs in his senior campaign with 19 strikeouts and nine walks.  Tied a career-high with 4 wins.  Longest outing of the year was the final one of his career where he went 4.0 innings against Norfolk State on May 17.  Earned his first win of the year on March 15 against Savannah State, a game in which the Eagles won on a walk-off home run by Tyson Simpson.  Pitched 1.2 innings to earn the 17-15 win over Virginia State in comeback fashion, where he struck out two batters.  Came on for 1.1 innings to earn a crucial win over Bethune-Cookman on April 13.  Help close out NCCU’s 8-5 win over Florida A&M on April 26.      

2013: Settled into his niche as middle reliever and closer for the NCCU pitching staff finishing with a career-best 2.28 ERA, 4-2 overall in 20 appearances in his third season. Threw 27.2 innings, allowing only 22 hits with seven earned runs, 12 strikeouts, and six walks. Opposing hitters batted .220 against him. Earned his first win of the season in-relief logging one inning with no hits and earned runs surrendered in the 2-1 victory over Coppin State. Struck out at least one batter in 10 appearances, and never walked more than one batter in an outing on the year. His longest effort of the season came on March 30 in a 5-1 loss to East Carolina where he came in and gave up just two hits and walked one batter with no runs allowed. Gave up earned runs in three of his 20 appearances.

2012: Improved upon his rookie season at NCCU, finishing up with a 7.58 ERA which was fifth on the team. Threw 46.1 innings allowing 56 hits, 39 earned runs with 22 walks and 19 strikeouts. Earned his first career NCCU win on April 4 against former CIAA foe Virginia State where he gave up just one run in 4.1 innings and struck out a season-high five batters. On April 21 against Bethune-Cookman earned his first conference win as he came on in-relief in three innings of work allowed only one hit with a walk and two strikeouts in the Eagles 4-3 victory over MEAC power Bethune-Cookman. Made four starts on the year that includes throwing 4.1 innings in the series clinching win over NC A&T where he surrendered only three hits. In MEAC play, recorded a 3.31 ERA with a 1-3 record in seven appearances going 16.1 innings giving up just six earned runs with five strikeouts.

2011: Walked-on to the baseball program after spending the fall of 2010 with the NCCU football team and gave Eagle fans a glance at a very promising future at NCCU. Made 15 appearances on the season which tied with Glenn Frye for third on the team and was tied for third with 8 starts on the season. Threw 37.1 innings in his rookie season striking out 19 batters while walking 53. His longest outing of the year took place against Campbell on April 6 where he went 6.1 innings and allowed only three earned runs in a loss to the Camels. In a 6-4 loss to Florida A&M on March 8, threw 5.0 innings and allowed only three runs with 3 K’s.

2010: Also competed on the NCCU football team primarily as a holder for the Eagles during his freshman season.

High School (Parkland H.S.): Played quarterback on the football team and was named captain his senior year along with being voted captain of the Mustang baseball team. Was Honorable Mention All-Conference his senior year.

Personal: Born on April 6, 1992. Jacob Russell is the son of Scott Russell and Robin O’Neal. Majoring in Sports Management at NCCU.