Enters the 2015 season with 25 career starts on the mound ... NIU's most experienced returning starter
2014 SEASON (SOPHOMORE):
• Made 10 starts, five as the Huskies Friday starter, and 15 appearances
• Finished the year with a 1-6 record and 5.92 ERA; struckout 39 and walked 36 in 51.2 innings
• Hurled a complete game shutout versus Northwestern, striking out eight with three hits and four walks in a 4-0 win (April 30)
• Pitched a perfect inning at Bowling Green in NIU's shutout victory over the Falcons (March 28)
• Went 1-1 as a midweek starter for NIU with three no decisions; Huskies were 4-1 when he started a midweek game
• Did not give an earned run in his final 12.1 innings of the season, striking out 10, walking four and posting a WHIP of 1.07 (April 30-May 17)
• Helped NIU pitching staff to MAC best 2.93 earned run average in conference play
2013 SEASON (FRESHMAN):
• Played and started 15 games
• Finished third on the team with a 4.74 ERA
• Struckout three in his first start as a Huskie versus BYU (Feb. 16)
• Gave up three runs over 5.1 innings in his next start at Nevada (Feb. 23)
• Allowed a lone earned run in the following two starts versus Utah and at Southern Illinois, receiving no-decisions each game (March 1 and March 8)
• Tallied four consecutive quality starts between March 8 and March 29 without earning a victory
• Struckout ten Golden Flashes and allowed one earned run in a loss versus Kent State (March 22)
• Limited the Zips to two runs on four hits over 7.2 innings at Akron (March 29)
• Finally secured his first victory in a seven-inning, four strikeout effort versus Western Michigan (April 12)
• Threw a 2-hit complete game victory versus Miami (April 26)
• Allowed four runs over 4.2 innings in a MAC Tournament start versus Buffalo (May 23)
HERSCHER HIGH SCHOOL:
• Played baseball, football and basketball at Herscher High School
• Shared school's top offensive player award with twin brother, Justin, junior year
• Won conference, regional and sectional championships sophomore and junior seasons
• Team was 31-5 in his junior year
• Recorded a .486 batting average, nine home runs, 10 doubles, three triples and 39 RBI junior year
• Also went 9-1 pitching in 10 starts, with 82 strikeouts and one save
• Set school-record for lowest ERA in 2011 (1.08)
• Went 6-2 as a freshman and 5-4 as sophomore on the mound
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS:
• Son of Jay and Kim Ruckman
• Twin brother, Justin, also member of the NIU Baseball Recruiting Class of 2012
• Honor roll student last three years
• Member of Students Against Destructive Decisions
• Volunteered with Salvation Army and Family Fun-a-Thon
• Plans to major in sociology
• Admires Michael Jordan because he strived for greatness and had a great attitude toward the game
• Advanced to the Great Lakes Regional of the Little League World Series in 2005, appearing on ESPN
• Claimed state championship with Limestone Little League that year
| YEAR |
W-L |
ERA |
G/GS |
CG |
SV |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
HR |
HBP |
BB |
SO |
AVG |
WHIP |
| 2013 |
2-10 |
4.74 |
15/15 |
1 |
0 |
87.1 |
89 |
60 |
46 |
7 |
16 |
38 |
47 |
.266 |
1.45 |
| 2014 |
1-6 |
5.92 |
15/10 |
1 |
0 |
51.2 |
65 |
44 |
34 |
3 |
4 |
36 |
39 |
.317 |
1.95 |
| CAREER |
3-16 |
5.18 |
30/25 |
2 |
0 |
139.0 |
154 |
104 |
80 |
10 |
20 |
74 |
86 |
.285 |
1.64 |
CAREER HIGHS ENTERING 2015:
Innings: 9.0 (twice) last versus Northwestern (April 30, 2014)
Pitch count: 125 versus Northwestern (April 30, 2014)
Strikeouts: 10 versus Kent State (March 22, 2013)
Walks: 6 at Central Michigan (April 5, 2013)
Runs: 9 (twice) last at Cal Poly (March 12, 2014)
