National honors roll in for Tanner Burns

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Dakota Sumpter

AUBURN, Ala. – The honors continue to roll in for Tanner Burns, who has not only been named the National Pitcher of the Week by Perfect Game/Rawlings and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), but also earned the Golden Spikes Award Performance of the Week.

Burns was also named the SEC Pitcher of the Week and a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Monday.  

The Decatur, Alabama, native struck out 15 batters in the series opener against the Bearcats last Friday and joined Casey Mize (2018), Chris Bootcheck (1999), Tim Hudson (1997), John Powell (1994) and Mark Chapman (1986) in Auburn's 15-strikeout club.

Burns 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.