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Southeastern Louisiana University coach Matt Riser announced Thursday the promotion of Gerry Salisbury to full-time position on the baseball staff.

Salisbury, whose appointment is pending the approval of the University of Louisiana System’s Board of Supervisors, takes over pitching coach duties on an interim basis from Andrew Gipson following the latter’s promotion to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

“I go back to last year when I initially brought Gerry onto the staff,” Riser said. “In the interview process, he said values fastball life, fastball command and competitiveness. We got into a deeper conversation and he knows the analytics side of things.

Salisbury served as the Lions’ assistant pitching coach and camp coordinator this past season. Following up a program-record 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Southeastern established a new full-season standard with an average of 8.74 K/9 in 2021.

“The knowledge he brings from the numbers side of things, but also the relationship building and the ability to blend the two together so well, makes him a dynamic pitching coach,” Riser said. “We’re extremely excited to elevate him into this position.”

Salisbury came to Southeastern after serving a stint as the Director of Pitching Development at his alma mater, Ohio University.

The 2020 Ohio pitching staff averaged 9.59 K/9 over the course of a 15-game schedule and seven pitchers averaged at least 10.0 K/9 during the abbreviated season. The team ERA also improved by nearly half a run over the previous season.

A four-year letter winner, he averaged 7.2 K/9 in 248 career innings and compiled a 2.0 K/BB ratio. Salisbury logged a team-high in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts in both 2017 and 2018. The left-hander from Brunswick, Ohio helped lead the Bobcats to the 2017 MAC Tournament championship, earning a start against Indiana in NCAA Regional action.

Following his collegiate career, Salisbury played two years of professional baseball for the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers in the United Shore League. He also served the 2019 season as a graduate assistant at Ohio while completing his master’s degree.

“He was a left-hander pitching on Friday nights for a team that made a couple of Regionals,” Riser said. “He knows what it takes to compete at this level. In the professional ranks, he had to figure out how to stay around as long as possible, so he dug into the numbers.”

DIAMOND CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the baseball program are encouraged to join the Diamond Club. Lion baseball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.

All membership fees and donations to both the Diamond Club and S Club (baseball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern baseball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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