Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raider Profile: Rusty Shellhorn
October 06, 2011 | Baseball
Shellhorn was among Northwoods League leaders last summer with a 2.30 ERA, 62.2 IP and 71 strikeouts
Oct. 6, 2011
Red Raider Profile: Rusty Shellhorn | 
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The Texas Tech baseball team's fall season is underway and throughout the remainder of the semester, Texas Tech Athletics Communications will take an inside look into the Tech program with Red Raider Profiles on each player.
Rusty Shellhorn (LHP - 5-10, 185 - L/L - RS Jr./RS - Spokane, Wash./Central Valley/Washington State)
If adding experience is the key to success the Red Raiders will hit the jackpot once Rusty Shellhorn toes the rubber this spring. But this has been a work in progress, meaning Shellhorn's emergence didn't happen overnight, in fact, it has taken a year.
Shellhorn transferred to Texas Tech in the fall of 2010, after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Washington State in the Pac-10 Conference. Shellhorn helped lead the Cougars to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. As a sophomore, Shellhorn and Washington State finished their season at the Fayetteville Regional where they lost in the title game to the No. 15 Arkansas Razorbacks.
His freshman season, Shellhorn experienced the postseason at the Norman Regional where they ended up losing to No. 9 Oklahoma.
Then last year Shellhorn had to sit out the season, due to NCAA transfer rules. He is now a redshirt junior in his fourth year at the college level.
Shellhorn's recent success goes way beyond his time at Washington State. The past three summers while playing in the Prospect League (2009) and Northwoods League (2010-11), Shellhorn has picked up all-star recognition.
He finished the 2011 summer with the Madison Mallards with a 5-2 record and 2.30 ERA in 12 starts with 62.2 innings pitched with 71 strikeouts. He ranked among league leaders in ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts.
The previous summer, Shellhorn made history tossing the first-ever no-hitter for the Mallards with a nine-inning gem against the Wisconsin Rapids where he struck out eight batters in the contest.
"We have been waiting a long time to see him pitch in a game," fourth-year head coach Dan Spencer said about Shellhorn. "He had to sit out last year after transferring. He has had some great summers. We are looking for him to be a big contributor at the front of the game for us. Right now, if we opened up today he would be one of our four starters."
In addition, Shellhorn is one of three Red Raiders who were named to the Louisville Slugger High School All-America team in 2008, joining fellow lefties Daniel Coulombe and Ben Flora.
