University of South Carolina Upstate

2016: Went 1-3 with a 3.48 ERA while making 10 appearances...Set a new career-high with seven strikeouts against Dayton (Feb. 20)...Threw a season-high 113 pitches at Kentucky (March 12)...Earned the win against Lafayette (March 23).. 

2015: Led the team with 21 appearances ... Tied for team lead with 31.6 innings pitched as both a starting pitcher and reliever ... Tied for fifth with 31 strikeouts ... Set a new career-high with six strikeouts against Northern Kentucky (April 24) ... Threw three shutout innings to earn the win against Stetson (April 12).

2014: Was tied for the team lead with 17 appearances on the mound … Logged 49.2 innings of work as both a starting pitcher and reliever … Ranked fifth on the team with 25 strikeouts … Struck out a season-high five batters against Lipscomb (Mar. 28) … Was the starting pitcher in Upstate’s 8-6 upset victory over No. 25 Kentucky (Feb. 17) … Earned his first career victory after pitching three shutout innings of relief against Jacksonville (May 9).

Before USC Upstate: Posted a 2.10 earned run average with 72 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched as a senior at Lake Minneola High School … Played under head coach Mike Smith … Was a member of the inaugural baseball team at Lake Minneola High School … Led the team to a No. 5 seed in the district tournament … Joined the Orlando Baseball Academy in the summer of 2011 and was selected to the Perfect Game Preseason High School Underclassmen All-American team … Ranked in the top 1,000 players in the nation by Perfect Game … Appeared in the Miami Power Showcase as one of the top players in the country … Tossed a pair of scoreless innings to go along with two strikeouts in the Miami Power Showcase.

Personal: Born on February 9, 1995 in Downers Grove, Ill. …. Son of Rodd and Sherri Birklund … Has one sister … Majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in informatics … Favorite food is prime rib … Favorite movie is “Sinister” … Favorite TV show is “Family Guy” … Favorite actor is Tom Hanks … Favorite musical artist is Caskey … Favorite season is summer … Favorite book is Of Mice and Men … Favorite sports figure is Hunter Pence … His hero growing up was his grandfather … The person he admires most is his grandfather … His dream job is to play professional baseball.