On April 3, Mark Gilliford hit a three-run bomb in the 6th inning of a doubleheader at Nyack College. The landmark blast broke the school record for career home runs. “It wasn’t really something I was thinking about or worrying about on a game by game basis,” Gilliford said. “I was confident that I wouldn’t get shut out for the last 40 or so games.”
The record previously held by Steve Crounse was not challenged since it was set in 1992. The closest was catcher Brett Wallace who graduated last year with 17 home runs, but Gilliford outpaced him before the end of last season.
“It was a bit of a relief to finally get it out of the way after a few weeks of sitting on 23,” Gilliford added. Gilliford hit his 23rd home run on March 24.
Last year, Gilliford also set the single-season home run record with 12 long flies.
Twenty more games remain in the Golden Ram’s schedule. The other record Gilliford could be reaching for is the career runs batted in record. Gilliford needs just 24 more RBIs to tie the record.
“The main focus now for everybody is to find some consistency over the last half of the season leading into playoffs,” Gilliford added.
“We have lost a couple games the last few weeks that we had no business losing so that is something we need to correct.”
Though WCU has struggled with consistancy this season, Gilliford’s bat is one constant can be counted on in the future.