April 17, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - USC Upstate senior baseball player Andrew Runion has been a model of consistency since coming to the Upstate campus. With each new season, he has built on the success achieved during the season before and improved upon it.
That's why Runion is in the middle of a career-year during his senior season, leading the Spartans in batting average (.368), home runs (7), and runs batted in (29). His seven home runs this season are just two off of his career total coming into the 2008 season.
Runion currently stands second all-time in career doubles with 45 and is only the 11th player in school history to collect over 100 career RBIs.
Recently, Runion sat down with Adam Walker of upstatespartans.com to talk about the season, facing Division I competition and fun time on the road.
US.com: How would you rate your performance so far in the baseball season?
Andrew Runion: I've improved just like everyone on the team has and that's what you want to do. I feel like I've worked very harder this year going back and forth from first base to third base and even pitching a little bit. It has been an interesting season for me and for the team. That's how I expected it to be.
US.com: Was there an adjustment period for the team since you are facing Division I competition for the first time this season?
AR: There was an adjustment period, but once we played a couple of games, we realized that there is not much of a difference from Division I and Division II. Baseball is baseball and the level of competition has stepped up, but it's still the same game and you play the same way, nothing changes. After the first few games, everyone understood the roles were the same and we had to do our jobs.
US.com: To what do you credit your individual success this season?
AR: It's the coaching. (Head coach Matt) Fincher has helped me with my opposite field hitting and (assistant coach Russell) Triplett with the pull hitting. I've gotten better at pulling the ball since used to be an opposite field hitter, but it's been nice to get hits in the left side of the field and that's been key to my success.
US.com: What has it been like going against some of the big Division I schools such as South Carolina, Charlotte and Tennessee?
AR: It's been fun, and that's one thing we were looking forward to when we became Division I to play teams like that. That's a way to get better because they are part of the upper-crust of college baseball.
US.com: What has it been like playing with the fellow seniors on the baseball team?
AR: Myself, (Scott) Eckard and (Kyle) Bowley came here four years ago, we been together the entire time and I think we've gotten closer this season. (Mike) Colecchi came here three years ago and has been my roommate for two years and everyone loves (Casey) Rivers, who came here a couple of years ago. It's a great group of guys and a very talented group. It's been great to share time with them.
US.com: What has playing four years for head coach Matt Fincher been like?
AR: To a lot of people, he's a hard guy to understand sometimes, but once you do, he knows the game more than anyone I've ever met. He's a great coach, a fun guy on an off the field and once you get to know him and understand his ways, he really makes sense and helps you progress.
US.com: Who is your favorite Major League Baseball team and why?
AR: It has to be the Atlanta Braves because I grew up watching them.
US.com: If you weren't playing baseball in college, what would you be doing?
AR: I wouldn't be playing a sport in college. I wasn't really good at any other sports, but I guess I would be working at a job to help pay for school. Playing a sport in college is like having a job to take care of school costs.
US.com: What is one of the funniest moments you've experience on the road with the team?
AR: It's hard to pick one because there have been so many of those. Some of the fun moments happen when a game on the road gets rained out and we have to spend the whole day in the hotel. Everyone is board and has to find ways to entertain themselves with games, pranks and messing out with one another.
US.com: What are your plans after graduation?
AR: I've sent out my resume and, hopefully, I'll get some job interviews. I have one prospect I've worked for during the past couple of summers. They've told me that I could come and work for them, but I don't know if I'm going to do that or not so I'm keeping my options open.
