University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
2017 Baseball Roster
Roster
Gruszka, Joe
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Jersey Number 25
Joe Gruszka
- Position:
- Catcher
- Height:
- 5-10
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Fayetteville, GA
Bio
2019 (Junior): Appeared in 38 games with 29 starts … Saw time mostly at catcher and designated hitter … Totaled 23 hits, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored … Totaled six doubles and 14 walks … Totaled two three-hit games … Had three games with three RBIs … In UNC Asheville’s three-game sweep of Longwood (3/29-3/31), Gruszka totaled five hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.
2018 (Sophomore): Gruszka started in 42 of the 51 games in 2018 ... He saw action as a catcher, outfielder and second baseman ... Started the season red hot, as he toted a nine-game hitting streak ... In that stretch, three games were multi-hit performances ... Season was highlighted by a four-hit game at NC State ... Versus the Wolfpack, he touched home three times ... On March 30 versus Campbell, the utility player posted a three-hit game, as he collected a RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base ... Gruszka finished the season hitting .255 ... Tallied 41 hits, including 12 extra-base hits (five were home runs) ... Was the most effective player in stolen bases, as he finished the season going 9-for-10 in stolen bases ... Finished the year with a team-best 28 runs scored ... Also slugged .416 and had an on-base percentage of .372.
2017 (Freshman): Helped guide UNC Asheville back to the Big South Conference Baseball Championship for the first time since 2012 as the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round for the first time since 2007 … Helped UNC Asheville finish third in the league with 47 double plays turned … Helped the Bulldogs lead the conference with 33 runners caught stealing … Caught 13 runners attempting to steal, tied for sixth-most in the conference and second-most on the team … Helped UNC Asheville lead the Big South Conference with 17 runners picked off … Picked off three runners on the season, tied for fourth-most in the league … Batted .178 for the year, making 22 starts in 36 appearances … Recorded 16 hits, 15 runs scored, 12 runs batted in, three doubles and one home run … In the field, recorded 134 putouts and 32 assists … Split time between the outfield, catcher and second base spending most of his time at catcher … Had three multi-hit games on the year and scored two runs in two contests, including at home against Tennessee Tech (3/21) and at home against Wofford (4/11) … Recorded the game-winning hit and RBI in the Bulldogs’ 7-6 home win over Radford (5/7) as he batted in Justin Woods with two outs in the bottom of the 10th … Went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored in the first game of the road series at Campbell (4/21) … Made his collegiate debut in the Bulldogs’ first game of the season at Samford (2/17) … Earned his first collegiate start in the series finale at Samford (2/19) … Registered his first collegiate hit in a game against Iona (3/5) where he went 2-for-4 with a run scored … Notched his first collegiate RBI at Wofford (2/26) … Had a season-high 11 putouts at home against Wofford (4/11) … Picked off two runners at No. 3 North Carolina (5/10).
Before UNC Asheville: In addition to his prep action at Starrs Mill, he competed in the summer with the Home Plate Chilidogs … Ranked as the No. 20 catcher in the state of Georgia by Perfect Game … Tabbed an All-County selection, he hit .485 as a junior … Was named an All-County selection in both 2015 (junior) and 2016 (senior) … Was a 4-AAAAA All-Region selection in 2016 … Named a 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman All-American.
2018 (Sophomore): Gruszka started in 42 of the 51 games in 2018 ... He saw action as a catcher, outfielder and second baseman ... Started the season red hot, as he toted a nine-game hitting streak ... In that stretch, three games were multi-hit performances ... Season was highlighted by a four-hit game at NC State ... Versus the Wolfpack, he touched home three times ... On March 30 versus Campbell, the utility player posted a three-hit game, as he collected a RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base ... Gruszka finished the season hitting .255 ... Tallied 41 hits, including 12 extra-base hits (five were home runs) ... Was the most effective player in stolen bases, as he finished the season going 9-for-10 in stolen bases ... Finished the year with a team-best 28 runs scored ... Also slugged .416 and had an on-base percentage of .372.
2017 (Freshman): Helped guide UNC Asheville back to the Big South Conference Baseball Championship for the first time since 2012 as the Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round for the first time since 2007 … Helped UNC Asheville finish third in the league with 47 double plays turned … Helped the Bulldogs lead the conference with 33 runners caught stealing … Caught 13 runners attempting to steal, tied for sixth-most in the conference and second-most on the team … Helped UNC Asheville lead the Big South Conference with 17 runners picked off … Picked off three runners on the season, tied for fourth-most in the league … Batted .178 for the year, making 22 starts in 36 appearances … Recorded 16 hits, 15 runs scored, 12 runs batted in, three doubles and one home run … In the field, recorded 134 putouts and 32 assists … Split time between the outfield, catcher and second base spending most of his time at catcher … Had three multi-hit games on the year and scored two runs in two contests, including at home against Tennessee Tech (3/21) and at home against Wofford (4/11) … Recorded the game-winning hit and RBI in the Bulldogs’ 7-6 home win over Radford (5/7) as he batted in Justin Woods with two outs in the bottom of the 10th … Went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored in the first game of the road series at Campbell (4/21) … Made his collegiate debut in the Bulldogs’ first game of the season at Samford (2/17) … Earned his first collegiate start in the series finale at Samford (2/19) … Registered his first collegiate hit in a game against Iona (3/5) where he went 2-for-4 with a run scored … Notched his first collegiate RBI at Wofford (2/26) … Had a season-high 11 putouts at home against Wofford (4/11) … Picked off two runners at No. 3 North Carolina (5/10).
Before UNC Asheville: In addition to his prep action at Starrs Mill, he competed in the summer with the Home Plate Chilidogs … Ranked as the No. 20 catcher in the state of Georgia by Perfect Game … Tabbed an All-County selection, he hit .485 as a junior … Was named an All-County selection in both 2015 (junior) and 2016 (senior) … Was a 4-AAAAA All-Region selection in 2016 … Named a 2015 Perfect Game Underclassman All-American.
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Presbyterian (Game 3)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 2)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 1)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Gardner-Webb (Game 3)
Monday, May 13
