Auburn baseball: Conner Kendrick named SEC pitcher of the week

Thanks to his fine performance in a Friday night win against Arkansas, Auburn lefty Conner Kendrick was named SEC pitcher of the week on Monday.

Kendrick played a vital role in Auburn's first SEC shutout win in more than two years, a 3-0 victory over the Razorbacks. He allowed just four hits and one walk in 7 1/3 innings, striking out eight Arkansas hitters. The win improved Kendrick to 5-3 and lowered his season ERA to 2.03.

The JUCO transfer never allowed the Hogs to have much of a scoring threat, as Arkansas had multiple baserunners in just one inning. He struck out batters to end the second, third and sixth innings. Kendrick now has 74 strikeouts this season, which ranks 11th in the SEC, and his 17 earned runs allowed is tied for fifth-fewest in the conference.

Kendrick will get the start Tuesday against Alabama in a single-elimination game at the SEC Tournament. In two appearances against the Crimson Tide this season, he's allowed six runs -- just two earned -- on nine hits and five walks in 11 1/3 innings, and he's struck out 14.