Troy University Athletics
Crane Etches Name in Sun Belt Record Book
10/22/2018 10:28:00 AM | Baseball
 TROY, Ala. – After finishing one of the most prolific pitching careers in school history this past season, former Troy pitching ace Andrew Crane has now been enshrined among the top baseball players in Sun Belt Conference history as he officially holds the league's career earned run average record.
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The record is the latest in a string of awards and honors earned by the Pascagoula, Miss. native over the past two seasons. He was the Sun Belt's 2017 Newcomer of the Year and 2018 Preseason Pitcher of the Year, plus a two-time all-conference selection and an all-conference tournament team pick.
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"This is an accomplishment that I will cherish for a lifetime," Crane said. "I owe it all to the 35 guys over the years who made all the plays behind me, manufactured runs, and pushed me to be the best version of myself day in and day out. This is something I could never do alone. I owe a special thank you to Coach (Mark) Smartt and his staff for presenting me with the opportunities I needed to achieve this accomplishment. Hopefully one day the record will be broken by a fellow Trojan."
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Crane represents a true underdog story, starting when he was cut from his high school baseball team as a sophomore. Frustrated, he sat out his junior year but gave baseball one last chance as a senior. Still, he was given just one scholarship opportunity – to play at East Mississippi Community College.
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His performance at EMCC caught the eye of the Troy coaching staff, but before he ever threw a pitch at Riddle-Pace Field, he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2016.
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He then busted onto the scene in 2017 when he set a school and conference record with 40 consecutive scoreless innings; not allowing a run – earned or unearned – for nearly two months of baseball. Then in 2018, his senior leadership helped guide the Trojans to their first NCAA Regional in five years after a record-setting season on the diamond.
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Crane's career 2.25 ERA broke the previous record held by South Alabama's Jon Lieber, who posted a 2.38 ERA in the 1991 and 1992 seasons. He ranks second on the school record list in the category behind only Ron Pierce's 1.88 ERA in 1976 and 1977.
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Following his graduation and the conclusion of his playing career this spring, he joined the baseball coaching staff at West Florida as a graduate assistant.
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The record is the latest in a string of awards and honors earned by the Pascagoula, Miss. native over the past two seasons. He was the Sun Belt's 2017 Newcomer of the Year and 2018 Preseason Pitcher of the Year, plus a two-time all-conference selection and an all-conference tournament team pick.
Â
"This is an accomplishment that I will cherish for a lifetime," Crane said. "I owe it all to the 35 guys over the years who made all the plays behind me, manufactured runs, and pushed me to be the best version of myself day in and day out. This is something I could never do alone. I owe a special thank you to Coach (Mark) Smartt and his staff for presenting me with the opportunities I needed to achieve this accomplishment. Hopefully one day the record will be broken by a fellow Trojan."
Â
Crane represents a true underdog story, starting when he was cut from his high school baseball team as a sophomore. Frustrated, he sat out his junior year but gave baseball one last chance as a senior. Still, he was given just one scholarship opportunity – to play at East Mississippi Community College.
Â
His performance at EMCC caught the eye of the Troy coaching staff, but before he ever threw a pitch at Riddle-Pace Field, he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2016.
Â
He then busted onto the scene in 2017 when he set a school and conference record with 40 consecutive scoreless innings; not allowing a run – earned or unearned – for nearly two months of baseball. Then in 2018, his senior leadership helped guide the Trojans to their first NCAA Regional in five years after a record-setting season on the diamond.
Â
Crane's career 2.25 ERA broke the previous record held by South Alabama's Jon Lieber, who posted a 2.38 ERA in the 1991 and 1992 seasons. He ranks second on the school record list in the category behind only Ron Pierce's 1.88 ERA in 1976 and 1977.
Â
Following his graduation and the conclusion of his playing career this spring, he joined the baseball coaching staff at West Florida as a graduate assistant.
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