Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU: 4-year returning letterman....Returning for a NCAA-granted additional year because of covid 19....School-record 65 career relief appearances....Career totals: 13-11 record, 8 saves, and 4.36 ERA....Made 8 relief appearances in 2020....1-1 record with team-high 4 saves and a 1.96 ERA....Team-best WHIP of 0.93....Tied for 3rd in PBC and 10th nationally for saves....Opponents batted only .203 against him (lefties only .130)....Opponents hit only .163 off him with runners in scoring position....As a junior, pitched in a team-high 20 games (all in relief)....3-2 record with one save and a 4.28 ERA....As a sophomore, led FMU with 21 mound appearances....4-4 record with 2 saves and a 4.65 ERA....37 strikeouts in 40.2 innings....During freshman campaign, appeared in 18 games (2 starts) and registered a 5-4 mark with 1 save and a 5.07 ERA....Fanned 27 batters in 49.2 innings....Signed during 2016 early signing period....Big right-handed pitcher that can also hit.....The sky is the limit for him with the potential that we’ve seen so far.....Will have a big opportunity to prove himself right away....Younger brother (Thomas) is also a part of the Patriot program....Student-Athlete Advisory Committee 2020-21....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2017, 2018....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2017 (spring), 2018 (spring), 2019 (spring, fall), 2020 (spring).

PERSONAL: 

• Born Christian Michael Umphlett in Charlotte, N.C.
• Graduate of South Mecklenburg High School, where he played for head coach Jon Tuscan
• 4-year letterman
• All-Conference as a senior
• Ranked 6th-best first baseman in North Carolina by Perfect Game
• 2016 Atlantic Region honorable mention
• Member of the Sabres’ 2013 state championship squad
• In 2015, also suited up for the South Charlotte Panthers and batted an impressive .432
• Batted .380 during 2015 fall ball season
• Nicknames are Sunshine or Umph

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up: Pro ball player
• Favorite Superhero: Batman
• Favorite Athlete: Ethan Meece
• Favorite Sports Team: Duke basketball and Oregon Ducks Softball
• Favorite Movie or TV Show: Dazed and Confused, Everybody wants some, That 70’s show  
• Favorite Food: Mac n Cheese
• Favorite Vacation Spot: The beach
• Twitter Handle: @Cumphlett9
• Instagram Account: @christian_umphlett
• Your Motivation Music: Led Zeppelin
• Favorite Thing About FMU: Downtown
• Favorite Off-Field Activity: Music and NBA 2k
• Goals for Upcoming Season: Win 
• Why you first chose your sport: It chose me
• The biggest mental challenge to you improving faster: Failure is going to happen... deal with it
• Interesting Notes: I paint
• Brush With Greatness: Grandfather played three years in the big leagues, one with the Boston Red Sox and two with the Washington Senators