May 8, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - The honors continue to pile up for junior right-hander Casey Mize, who was named the National Pitcher of the Week by Perfect Game/Rawlings Tuesday.
The recognition marks the second time Mize has been named the National Pitcher of the Week this season. He also took home the honor after his no-hitter vs. Northeastern on Mar. 9 and became the first Auburn player to earn a national weekly honor since 2010.
Mize was also named the SEC Pitcher of the Week for this third time this season and one of nine National Players of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, marking his second time to receive the recognition this season.
The Springville, Ala., native toed the rubber Friday night against Vanderbilt and turned in a complete-game, 15-strikeout effort against the Commodores. His 15 strikeouts not only matched an Auburn single-game recorded shared by Tim Hudson, Chris Bootcheck, Mark Chapman and John Powell, but were also the most by a SEC pitcher since 2013 and the most in conference play since 2012.
Mize struck out 11 batters in his first 5.0 innings of work and ultimately held the Commodores to just one run on four hits. He didn't issue a walk for the seventh time in 12 trips to the bump this season. The complete game was the third of the season for Mize, who also went the distance in his no-hitter against Northeastern and in a league play versus Mississippi State.
With the win, Mize improved to 9-2 on the season and has posted a 2.25 ERA. His 119 strikeouts surpass his total from last year, are the most by an Auburn pitcher since 1999, and are 27 more than any other pitcher in the conference. He leads the SEC in seven statistical categories including strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio (17.00), WHIP (0.68) and complete games (three), among other categories.
Mize and the Tigers return to action tonight against South Alabama. First pitch at Plainsman Park is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the game will be available on SEC Network+.