Pitcher Conner Kendrick's lights-out performance against No. 11 Arkansas Thursday, May 16 couldn't have come at a better time for his team, and he was handed the SEC Pitcher of the Week award because of it.
"Playing in the best conference in the nation and being honored with something like that is phenomenal," Kendrick said. "It's an unreal experience. You have to pitch to the upmost importance to be named SEC Pitcher of the Week, and I'm truly honored."
Kendrick earned his second consecutive victory against the Razorbacks after pitching 7 1/3 innings. He only gave up four hits and one walk in the outing, and struck out a career-high-tying eight batters in a 3-0 shutout game.
Going into the game, the Tigers knew they had to perform well in their final conference series to have any chance of playing in the postseason.
"We knew coming out of the loss that we had to get the ball in our court," Kendrick said. "I knew how to go out there and pitch the best that I could to give us a chance at postseason play."
Kendrick went into postseason play with a 5-3 mark and a 2.03 ERA. He logged 75 1/3 innings, lead the team with 74 strikeouts, and held opponents to a .257 batting average.
At the beginning of the season Kendrick was used as a reliever, but in the final eight weeks of the season he was moved to a starter. His performances in the final part of the season have made him one of the best pitchers on the team.
"Coming out of the bullpen is a little different than the starting role," Kendrick said. "I think I matured as the season grew on. I learned how to throw multiple pitches for strikes and just got with the coaches and the team to help me learn and develop into what I became at the end of the season."
His development helped him earn the starting role in the opening SEC tournament game against Alabama on Tuesday, May 21.
The game did not end the way Kendrick wanted after Alabama scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to help the Crimson Tide to a 6-3 victory and eliminated the Tigers from the conference tournament. The team is still hopeful that they will be able to land an NCAA tournament bid next week.
After the Tigers got off to a slow start to conference play they finished the season by winning their final three conference series.
Auburn's 6-3 record in the final three weekends of SEC play was tied with Mississippi State and Texas A&M, and was behind only No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 LSU for the best finish in league play.
Auburn will find out Monday, May 27 if the team has received a bid to play in the NCAA tournament.
Until then it will be an anxious waiting game for the Tiger players and coaches as they hope to receive a phone call with good news.
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