DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College Baseball program has added Jacob Corn as the next pitching coach of the Flying Fleet, Head Coach Mark Crocco announced on Friday afternoon.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Corn to our Erskine Baseball family," Crocco said. "Coach Corn has already built a reputation among his peers as a relentless recruiter, proven winner and has a clear vision to develop competitors on and off the field."

Corn joins the Flying Fleet after spending last season as the pitching coach at in-state junior college powerhouse, Spartanburg Methodist College. The Pioneers saw an immediate impact on the mound with Corn leading the charge in 2023. SMC collected 404 strikeouts in 358.1 innings pitched as a staff last season, averaging over 10 strikeouts per 9 innings. Corn also showed the ability to keep hitters at bay as the Pioneers surrendered the fewest amount of home runs (29) in Division-1 Region 10 over the course of 52 games. SMC also led D1 Region 10 in earned runs (194) as opponents managed just a .236 batting average against Corn's staff, who also totaled three shutouts on the season. Corn and his pitching staff helped the Pioneers to an impressive 21-10 record at home in 2023.

"Coach Corn's ability to incorporate a competitive mindset really stood out to me in the interview process. His philosophy of attacking hitters aggressively in the zone was clear in the numbers that his SMC pitching staff showed in the 2023 season," Crocco said.

Corn is a native of Landrum, South Carolina and played his high school ball at Landrum High School before stops at Spartanburg Methodist and Division-1 Western Carolina University throughout his college career. Corn spent four seasons in the Catamounts' program, carving out a bullpen role during his time, making 57 appearances and recording five saves. After his college career, Corn played a season in the Frontier League, one of the premier independent baseball leagues in the United States, with the Sussex County Miners before joining the SMC coaching staff last season.

"I am excited and thankful to Coach Crocco for giving me the opportunity to come to Erskine and be a part of the coaching staff. I plan to pour everything I have into this pitching staff to ensure we bring a Conference Championship to Due West," Corn said.
 
Corn turned in a top-20 recruiting class on D1 JUCO Perfect Game for 2023 and Coach Crocco expects him to develop the current staff as well as continue to recruit at a high level.

"Corn grabbed my attention over the past 12 months as one of the top recruiters in the state of South Carolina," Crocco said. "His tireless work ethic and ability to evaluate at a high level was very clear to me as I saw some of the players that Spartanburg Methodist was signing. Coach Corn is a rising star in the college game, and we are honored to have him mentor our players."

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