2008 SEC Freshmen Academic Honor Roll

Talented hurler who will contend for a spot in the LSU weekend rotation this season ... a proven winner during his career at Captain Shreve High School ... considered one of the best pitchers in the state of Louisiana as a high school senior ... throws a two-seam fastball, a sinker and a slider ... rated the No. 2 prospect last summer in the Central Illinois Collegiate League by Baseball America magazine ... earned 2008 SEC Freshmen Academic Honor Roll recognition as a petroleum engineering major.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2008)
Appeared in 21 games (two starts), posting a 3-1 record and a 2.58 ERA in 52.1 innings with three saves ... recorded nine walks and 37 strikeouts ... worked nine innings in SEC regular-season games, posting a 1-0 mark and a 4.00 ERA with one walk and three Ks ... worked one shutout inning in Game 3 of NCAA Super Regional versus UC Irvine (June 9), allowing no hit with one walk ... pitched four shutout innings to earn a save in NCAA Baton Rouge Regional win over Texas Southern (May 30), allowing three hits with no walks and three strikeouts ... fired seven shutout innings in relief on April 1 to lead LSU to an 8-3 victory over Southern University; Ross earned his first career collegiate victory as he entered the game in the second inning and limited the Jaguars to no runs on four hits in seven innings with one walk and eight strikeouts ... earned win at Southern Miss (April 9) with two scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit ... recorded first career SEC win at Auburn (May 17), allowing three runs on four hits in three innings with no walks and one strikeout ... earned save vs. Northwestern State on March 25 - three innings, two runs on six hits with one walk and four Ks ... also recorded a save versus Stetson (March 8), allowing one run on five hits in three innings with one walk and two Ks.

HIGH SCHOOL
Named the 2007 Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A Pitcher of the Year ... had a career pitching record of 24-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 148.1 innings; recorded 177 strikeouts and 20 walks ... earned first-team all-state, all-city and all-district honors as a senior ... posted a 12-0 record and a 0.92 ERA with 110 strikeouts, 10 walks and eight shutouts during his senior campaign ... was 8-1 on the mound with a 1.27 ERA and 51 strikeouts as a junior in 2006 when Captain Shreve won the Class 4A state title ... earned all-district and all-city honors as a junior ... a member of National Honor Society and an Academic All-State selection.

PERSONAL
Full name is Austin North Ross ... parents are Alan and Gloria Ross ... has one sister, Ramsey ... nicknamed “A-Ro” by his high school coach ... interests include hunting and golfing ... credits Scott Garrelts -- a former MLB All-Star with the San Francisco Giants -- with teaching him how to pitch ... majoring in petroleum engineering at LSU ... born August 12, 1988.

Ross’ LSU Career Highs
Innings: 7 at Southern (4/1/08)
Strikeouts: 8 at Southern (4/1/08)
Hits Allowed: 6 twice; last vs. UL-Lafayette (4/29/08)
Runs: 4 at Auburn (5/17/08)
Earned Runs: 3 twice; last at Auburn (5/17/08)
Walks: 2 vs. Duquesne (3/1/08)