BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sophomore left-hander Jack Owen has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week after turning in the first complete-game shutout of his Auburn career last weekend, the league office announced Monday.
The honor comes a week after Tanner Burns was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week, making Auburn the first team with multiple honorees on the mound this season.
Owen's shutout against UTSA was not only the first of his career, but the second in the conference this season with Burns' performance against Cincinnati on Mar. 1 being the other.
Owen made his second straight Saturday start and improved upon his outing from a week ago as the southpaw struck out seven batters and didn't issue a walk in the complete-game effort.
The Aliso Viejo, California, native needed just 46 pitches to get through the first five innings and ultimately threw 98 pitches in the contest. The pitch count was the lowest in a complete-game since Keegan Thompson needed just 90 pitches in a complete-game shutout vs. Presbyterian in 2014.
Owen faced just two batters over the minimum and retired the final 17 hitters he faced.
The left-hander hasn't allowed a run in his last 19.1 innings pitched and hasn't given up an earned run in 27.1 innings dating back to last season, tying John Powell (1994) for the longest streak without allowing an earned run in program history. He has now struck out 29 batters and issued two walks this season.
Owen and the Tigers (14-2) travel to South Alabama (8-5) for a midweek conference Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CT before opening conference play against Tennessee at Plainsman Park this weekend.