J. Russell Martin came to Southwestern University as a star pitcher from French High School in Beaumont, Texas. He amassed outstanding statistics as a baseball pitcher during his career with the Pirates which included setting the national record for wins in the NAIA (46 wins). He helped lead the Pirate baseball team to two consecutive trips to the NAIA World Series, one of which the Pirates finished third in the nation. In their second trip to nationals, Martin was chosen to the World Series All Tournament Team. He also earned NAIA First Team All America honors twice, as a sophomore in 1983 and again as a senior in 1985. Martin graduated from Southwestern with a BBA degree in 1985.