March 19, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Junior right-hander Casey Mize has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week, the league office announced Monday.
Mize becomes the first SEC pitcher to earn the recognition in back-to-back weeks since former Vanderbilt hurler Carson Fulmer did so in the final two weeks of the 2015 season.
After throwing the program's first no-hitter since 2002 in his previous start, Mize (5-0, 1.93) held the Texas A&M offense at bay last Friday as he allowed one run on five hits in 7.1 innings and set the table for Auburn's SEC opening series win. Not only did Mize not issue a walk for the second straight start and seventh time since the beginning of last season, but he also struck out a career-high 13 batters for the second time in as many weeks.
The Springville, Ala., native came out sharp against the Aggies as he struck out the side in his first two innings of work and did so again in the fifth. The win marked Mize's fifth straight to start the season, and he became the first Auburn pitcher to win five straight starts to begin a season since Tim Hudson also did so in 1997.
Mize has now struck out 51 batters and issued three walks in 32.2 innings pitched this season. He has punched out 160 batters while issuing 12 walks dating back to the beginning of last season.
Mize and the Tigers hit the road for four games this week, starting with a midweek contest at Georgia Tech (11-8, 2-4 ACC) Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.