Dallas Baptist University Athletics

2022 (SOPHOMORE)
Made a career-high 23 relief appearances and posted a 4-0 record with two saves and a 1.63 ERA … His 23 appearances were second-most on the staff … Struck out a career-best 46 batters and walked just 14 in 27.2 innings of work … vs. TOP 25 OPPONENTS: Held No. 21 TCU (4/12) scoreless and struck out three over 1.2 innings … Earned the save at No. 6 TCU (4/26) after shutting out the Horned Frogs over the final 2.0 innings and striking out four … Tossed 1.2 innings of shutout relief and fanned four batters to earn the win against No. 3 Oklahoma State (5/10) … vs. MVC OPPONENTS: Picked up the save after holding Evansville (5/14) scoreless in the ninth inning … Threw 2.0 shutout innings at Indiana State (5/21) … vs. NON-CONFERENCE: Notched his first win of the year after throwing 1.0 scoreless frame against Southern Mississippi (3/13) … Struck out a career-high five batters and did not allow a baserunner in 2.0 shutout innings at Oral Roberts (3/18) … Allowed just one run over 2.1 innings versus Wofford (4/3) to pick up his second win of the year … MVC TOURNAMENT: Earned the win against Bradley (5/26) after holding the Braves scoreless and striking out four over the final 1.1 innings … AUSTIN REGIONAL: Tossed 1.0 shutout inning of relief versus Air Force (6/4).
 
2021 (FRESHMAN)
Made 14 relief appearances and posted a 1-0 record with a pair of saves and a 2.25 ERA … Held opponents to a .197 batting average … vs. MVC OPPONENTS: Kept Bradley (5/14) scoreless in 1.2 innings out of the pen and struck out three … Struck out a season-high four batters in 2.1 innings of work against Bradley (5/15) … vs. NON-CONFERENCE: Shutout Gonzaga (2/25) in 2.0 innings of relief and fanned three batters in his first appearance of the year … Earned his first career save after shutting out Missouri (3/4) in the ninth inning to preserve a 3-2 win at the Frisco College Baseball Classic … FORT WORTH REGIONAL: Came on in relief in the third inning against Oregon State in the Fort Worth Regional Championship (6/7) and held the Beavers scoreless in 4.1 innings of work to record his first career win … COLUMBIA SUPER REGIONAL: Following a nearly four-hour rain delay, emerged from the pen in the ninth inning to throw a scoreless frame and earn his second save in a 6-5 win over Virginia (6/12).
 
2020 (FRESHMAN)
Played in six games, making one start, and also made two appearances on the mound before the season was canceled due to COVID-19 … vs. TOP 25 OPPONENTS: Made his debut on the mound at No. 9 Oklahoma (3/3) and worked 0.1 inning of relief … vs. NON-CONFERENCE: Started in right field on Opening Day versus South Dakota State (2/14) … Held Oral Roberts (3/8) scoreless in 1.0 inning out of the pen.
 
COLLEGIATE SUMMER LEAGUE
Played for the Cheney Diamond Dawgs in the Sunflower Collegiate League in 2020.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-year letterman at Porter High School ... Played for head coach Wayne Ralph … Named a Class 5A Honorable Mention All-State selection as a pitcher in 2019 … Was a two-time All-District selection during his prep career … Rated the No. 40 shortstop from the state of Texas by Perfect Game in 2019 … Received Preseason Underclass Honorable Mention All-American recognition by Perfect Game in 2018 … As a standout quarterback in football, was a finalist for the Class 5A Player of the Year and was tabbed the District's Offensive Most Valuable Player … Garnered Academic All-State honors in both baseball and football … Competed for Houston Kyle Chapman Baseball in the summers.

PERSONAL
Born on June 12, 2000 … Parents are Billy and Paula Russell … His uncle Damon Thames was a two-time All-American at Rice University, the 1999 ABCA National Player of the Year, and was a ninth round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals … His cousin Charlie Thames was a First Team All-American at the University of Texas in 2000 and was a fourth round pick of the Anaheim Angels … His cousin Ron Thames played baseball and football at Sam Houston State University and won two national championships as a coach at Grayson College … Majoring in Business Management … Favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 2:4-5.