Nick Schmidt Named SEC Pitcher of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas junior southpaw Nick Schmidt was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week the conference office announced on Monday following his complete-game victory over Tennessee on Friday night.

Schmidt fanned nine while allowing just two runs on four hits. He also retired seven of the nine leadoff hitters he faced in the game. It was Schmidt’s fifth-career complete game and his second against the Volunteers.

It was the fourth career conference pitcher of the week honor for the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year from St. Louis, Mo., and the first this season. He is the second Razorback this season to win SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after Jess Todd took home the award last week.

Schmidt is 6-0 on the year with a 1.83 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 59 innings of work. He also leads the conference in opponent batting average at .163. He moved past David Walling into second place on the career strikeout list at Arkansas with 291 and is just 10 shy of Matt Carnes’ (1995-97) school record of 301.

Florida’s Matt LaPorta was named the SEC Hitter of the Week after homering in a school-record five straight games. He keyed the Gators’ sweep of Georgia, going 6 for 11 (.545) with four home runs and six RBI. Mississippi State shortstop Brandon Turner was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for his efforts last week. He hit .632 (12 for 19) for the week with nine RBI and eight runs scored.

The Razorbacks open a nine-game home stand at Baum Stadium on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against Northern Colorado. The two-game series then wraps up at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday before Mississippi State comes to Baum for the weekend.

Download: Schmidt gbg.pdf