Coach Corbin Quote: Russ has been one of most reliable pitchers that I have coached. Another good story about a young man who started as an infielder but developed as a pitcher. For the last two years, Russ has been one of the top closers in the SEC and in the nation. Fearless, tough competitor who will take the ball at anytime. He has developed into a good leader for us as well.
2010: Went 2-2 with a 3.07 ERA and 6 saves in 19 relief appearances on the year… Struck out 39 and walked 8 in 29.1 innings… Picked up second win of year in relief, allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout and a walk in 1.1 innings against Mississippi St. (5/15)… Struck out four and walked two while allowing one run on three hits in 2.2 innings of relief against Louisville (5/11)… Handed second loss of the season at LSU, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts in three innings of relief (5/7)… Faced two batters against Austin Peay, recording one strikeout in short outing vs. Governors (4/27)… Earned first loss of the season after allowing two runs, on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief in game one of double-header vs. Tennessee (4/25)… Allowed three runs on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief against MTSU (4/21)… Earned sixth save of the season against Middle Tennessee… Runs given up against MTSU were the first allowed runs of the season, snapping 18.1 inning scoreless streak… Struck out five while allowing two hits in 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, earning fifth save of the season against MTSU (4/13)… Allowed one hit while striking out one in 0.1 innings of scoreless relief against South Carolina (4/11)… Notched fourth save of the season against Wofford (3/31) after throwing two-innings of two-hit scoreless relief… Faced three batters, walking two in 0.1 innings of relief in series finale against Kentucky (3/27)… Threw 1.1 innings of two-hit scoreless relief in game one of doubleheader against Kentucky (3/27)… Struck out two of the three batters he faced in scoreless inning of relief against Wright State (3/24)… Threw final 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn third save of the season in Sunday game against Alabama, allowing one hit with one walk and two strikeouts (3/21)… Threw 1.1 innings of one-hit scoreless relief against Western Kentucky (3/17)… Struck out one in one-inning of scoreless relief, earning second save of the season against Ohio (3/13)… Threw two innings of one-hit scoreless relief with no walks and three strikeouts against UT-Martin (3/10)… Threw final 1.1 innings of two-hit scoreless relief to earn first save of the season against Oklahoma State in Dodgertown Classic… Picked up first win of the season in 2.1 inning relief outing against Austin Peay, allowing no runs on one hit to go with three strikeouts… Struck out two of the four batters he faced against Niagara (2/21) allowing no runs on one hit in inning of relief.
2009: Went 1-2 with a team-best 2.96 ERA in 25 appearances, including one start… Struck out 39 batters in 27.1 innings on the season… Posted four saves, ranking second on the team… Allowed one run on two hits while striking out three in three innings of relief against Louisville in the Louisville Regional final… Threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief while striking out one against LSU at the SEC Tournament Championship… Faced two batters in relief role against South Carolina (5/21), allowing one hit while striking out the other… Allowed one run, scattering two hits with two strikeouts in one-inning of relief against Tennessee (5/15)… Allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout in 0.2 innings of relief in Sunday game against Georgia (5/10)… Ended 10-inning scoreless streak against Georgia… Notched fourth save of the season in game one of doubleheader with Belmont (5/5), putting Bruins down in order with one strikeout… Threw one-inning of scoreless relief while scattering one hit and striking out one against South Carolina (5/3)… Picked up the save against Mississippi State on 4/24, striking out the only batter he faced … Picked up his first win of the season against Louisville on 4/22, striking out three in 1.2 innings of work… Struck out the side in an inning of work against Austin Peay on 4/21… Allowed only two hits in 3.1 innings of work against Alabama on 4/18… Rendered Middle Tennessee scoreless and hitless in one inning of relief on 4/15…Pitched 0.2 innings of one hit relief against Florida (4/5) … Gave up one run on three hits in an inning of work with two strikeouts against Florida (4/3) … Pitched 0.2 innings of one-hit relief with a walk and strikeout against Auburn (329) … Closed out the Commodores win over Auburn (3/27), with an inning of hitless relief … Allowed four runs, scattering six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in no decision against Austin Peay (3/24)… Struck out two in one inning of scoreless relief against Belmont (3/18)… Tied for second in the SEC in saves (2) and appearances (7)… Gave up one run and two hits in 0.1 innings of relief against UIC (3/7)… Took the loss after allowing one unearned run and two walks in 1.1 innings of relief against UIC (3/5)… Threw one inning of scoreless relief against Lipscomb (3/3/09)… Earned his second save after fanning three Vermont batters in 1.1 innings of relief (2/27)… Took the loss after giving up two runs, zero earned, on two hits with one strikeout in 0.1 innings of work at Cal (2/23)… Threw 0.2 innings of scoreless relief while giving up one hit with two strikeouts in game two of double header against Stanford (2/21)… Allowed one hit while striking out one in season opener at Stanford (2/21) … Went 2-1 with 1.90 ERA in 21 games for Chatham in the Cape Cod League. Led team with 10 saves and struck out 33 batters while walking only nine in 23.2 innings of work. His 10 saves ranked second in the CCBL. Named to the CCBL East All-Star team.
2008: Named to All-SEC Freshman team after leading the team with eight saves (tied for seventh best in school history) … Converted infielder who finished the year with a 4-2 record and 3.52 ERA … Control pitcher with 52 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 46.0 innings …Led team in appearances with 26… Made first career appearance in ninth inning against Evansville (2/27) and picked up the victory, allowing one hit and striking out one in his inning of work…Pitched the final 2.1 innings against Kansas (2/29), retiring all seven batters he faced, including striking out a career-high three…Closed out the game against Louisville (3/4), pitching the final inning and allowing only one hit while striking out two…Recorded first career save against Western Carolina (3/11), pitching the final three innings and only allowing two hits while striking out five…Picked up second win of the season against South Carolina (3/14), pitching 1.2 innings, allowing only one hit, walking two and striking out one … Gave up three unearned runs in 2.2 innings against Alabama (3/23) … Threw three innings of two hit scoreless relief against Middle Tennessee (3/26) with five strikeouts and a walk…Pitched five innings of scoreless baseball against Arkansas (3/29), allowing four hits while striking out six…Recorded second save of the season against MTSU (4/2), pitching a scoreless ninth inning…Allowed one run on six hits in 2.2 innings in series finale against Ole Miss (4/6)…Pitched an inning of scoreless relief against Mississippi State (4/11)…Came into the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth against the Bulldogs (4/13) with VU ahead 4-3. Went 2-0 on the batter before running the count full and then struck him out swinging to end the game to pick up third save of the year… gave up a run on one hit in two innings with four strikeouts in relief against Auburn (4/18)…Earned fourth save of the year against Auburn (4/20), pitching the final 1.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and a hit. Came into the game with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth and the Commodores leading 9-5. Struck out Mike Bianucci who had homered twice in the game and got Hunter Morris to pop up after homering earlier in the game and against Brewer in his first appearance against the Tigers…Notched fifth save of the year with 0.2 innings against Austin Peay (4/22). Struck out final batter … Picked up third win of the year with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief against Kentucky (4/25) … Made his first career start in place of an injured Nick Christiani against Tennessee (5/4). Gave up five runs on five hits in five innings of work with a walk and a strikeout. Did not factor in decision…Threw 2.2 innings of two-hit scoreless relief with career high seven strikeouts against Georgia (5/9). Picked up the win against the Bulldogs to move to 4-0 on the year…Gave up two runs on two hits and didn[apos]t record an out against Georgia (5/10). Charged with his first career loss… Gave up four runs on three hits in an inning of work against Florida (5/15)… Allowed one run on two hits in two innings of work against Gators (5/17) … Recorded an out and sixth save of the year against Florida in the opening round of the SEC tourney (5/21) … Notched seventh save against South Carolina (5/23) with 1.1 innings of scoreless work with two strikeouts and walk … Closed out 7-4 win over Ole Miss (5/24) in the first semifinal game of SEC tourney. Recorded an out for eighth save of the year … Charged with loss against Oklahoma (6/1) after allowing two runs on one hit in 1.1 innings with a strikeout and a walk … Went 1-0 with 2.74 ERA and team-high 12 saves in 18 games for Hyannis in the Cape Cod League over the summer. Opponents batted just .187 off him in closer role. Named to Cape Cod League All-Star team and was Relief Pitcher of the Year in addition to All-League honors at the end of the summer.
2007: Redshirted … Played for the Waynesboro Generals of the Valley League over the summer. Was 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 11 appearances, including eight starts. Had two complete games and two shutouts with 54 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 54.1 innings. Also hit .226 with three homers and 20 RBI in 41 games, including 26 starts.
High School: Three-year captain of South Stanly High School … Was a three-time all-conference pick and the team MVP his junior and senior years … Played in the North Carolina State games … Helped lead team to district championship as a sophomore … Also lettered in basketball, cross country and soccer …Excelled in the classroom as well, was National Honor Society Vice President, President of the Spanish Club and a member of the Vica Club and Student Democracy.
Personal: Robert Russell Brewer … Born 2/25/88 …. Son of Pam and Keith Brewer … Has two brothers, Adam and Ethan … Majoring in human and organizational development … Favorites include Scott Rolen, Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith, SportsCenter, and home-cooking … One person he would like to have dinner with (living or dead) is Mickey Mantle … Chose Vanderbilt because of strong academics and the quality baseball program … Considers Nolan Ryan to be the greatest baseball player of all-time.
Career Game Highs
Innings Pitched: 5.0, most recently vs. Tennessee (5/4/08)
Strikeouts: 7, vs. Georgia (5/9/08)
Hits Allowed: 6, most recently vs. Austin Peay (3/24/09)
Walks Allowed: 2, most recently vs. Kentucky (Gm 2) (3/27/10)
Runs Allowed: 5, vs. Tennessee (5/4/08)