Baxendale named SEC Pitcher of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas junior right handed pitcher DJ Baxendale has been selected as the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week after his performance last weekend against Tennessee, as announced on Sunday by the league office.

Baxendale was dominant in his eight scoreless innings against the Volunteers. The junior from Jacksonville, Ark., only allowed two hits during his outing and struck out seven batters without issuing a walk. Baxendale did not allow his first hit against Tennessee until two outs in the sixth inning. He only allowed three runners to reach base and only one base runner advanced past second. Baxendale opened the game by retiring the first nine batters he faced and after the leadoff man in the fourth inning reached on an error, Baxendale then proceeded to sit down the next eight Volunteers that came to the plate. He faced the minimum in five of the eight innings he worked.

Baxendale and Arkansas reliever Tyler Wright combined on the two-hit shutout, which was Arkansas’ eighth in 2012, the most in a season single sine the Razorbacks also had eight shutouts in 1986.

For the season, Baxendale has started 15 games and has compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.14 ERA. He has struck out 74 in 80.1 innings and is holding the opposition to a .240 batting average.

Baxendale and the rest of the Arkansas baseball team are back in action on Tuesday when they face Mississippi State in the first round of the 2012 SEC Baseball Tournament at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala. First pitch against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game of the day, which features Kentucky and Ole Miss. The Arkansas-Mississippi State game will be televised by SportSouth and available in Northwest Arkansas on Fox Sports Southwest.