BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tanner Burns has been named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week after matching Auburn's single-game strikeout record against Cincinnati, the league office announced Monday.
Burns struck out 15 batters in the series opener against the Bearcats and joined Casey Mize (2018), Chris Bootcheck (1999), Tim Hudson (1997), John Powell (1994) and Mark Chapman (1986) in Auburn's 15-strikeout club.
The SEC Pitcher of the Week honor is the first of Burn's career. He is Auburn's first underclassman pitcher to earn this award since Keegan Thompson and Cole Lipscomb did so in back-to-back weeks in 2015.
The Decatur, Alabama, native turned in the first complete-game shutout in the conference this season and the first of his career against Cincinnati Friday. He struck out six of the first nine batters he faced and sat down 11 Bearcats in a row to start the game. Burns ultimately faced just two batters over the minimum as he didn't issue a walk.
The sophomore right-hander struck out a batter in eight of nine innings pitched and fanned two or more batters in six innings. He threw 104 pitches in the contest, 78 of which were strikes.
Burns and the Tigers continue the non-conference schedule with a pair of midweek games against UT Martin Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch at Plainsman Park is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.