BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After sweeping top-ranked Ole Miss on the road, Tennessee had two players earn SEC weekly honors on Monday, as announced by the league office.
Starting pitchers Chase Dollander (SEC Pitcher of the Week) and Chase Burns (SEC Freshman of the Week), were both recognized after stellar outings in Oxford over the weekend.
This marks the first time that UT has ever had a player named SEC Pitcher of the Week and SEC Freshman of the Week in the same week.
Dollander was lights out for the third straight weekend in Saturday’s series-clinching win over the Rebels, earning the win to improve to 4-0 on the year. The sophomore right hander pitched a career-high 6.1 shutout innings while allowing just three hits and a walk against one of the SEC’s most dangerous lineups. Dollander finished the night with 10 strikeouts, marking his fourth outing this season with double-digit punchouts. He currently leads the SEC with 54 strikeouts and ranks second nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (16.02) this year.
Dollander is the first Vol to win conference pitcher of the week honors since Sean Hunley did so last year on March 29.
Burns was incredible in Tennessee’s series-opening win on Friday, silencing a sold-out crowd throughout the night in his first-career SEC road start. The freshman right hander set a new career high with 11 strikeouts and did not allow a single walk while giving up just two hits and one run in seven innings, which was also a career high.
By earning the win, Burns improved to 5-0 on the year, which is tied for the best mark in the SEC. In his three starts against Power 5 opponents this season, Burns is averaging 10.0 strikeouts per game, compared to just 5.0 per game against non-Power 5 competition. The Gallatin, Tennessee, native took a perfect game into the fifth inning before allowing a single and had a shutout intact until giving up a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Burns is the second UT player to be named freshman of the week this season, joining Jared Dickey, who has done it twice.
Tennessee, which is now ranked No. 1 in the country by D1Baseball.com and Baseball America, hosts Western Carolina on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Ticket are available at AllVols.com.
SEC WEEKLY HONORS THIS SEASON
SEC Player of the Week
INF Trey Lipscomb – Feb. 28
SEC Pitcher of the Week
RHP Chase Dollander – March 28
SEC Freshman of the Week
RHP Chase Burns – March 28
OF/C Jared Dickey – Feb. 28 & March 14