Reggie McClain is the first SEC Pitcher to repeat as Pitcher of the Week since LSU's Aaron Nola in 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou junior RHP Reggie McClain (Duluth, Ga.) was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday (Feb. 23) following his complete game shutout of Sam Houston State last Friday. This is the second consecutive week that McClain has earned SEC Pitcher of the Week, making him the first SEC pitcher to accomplish that feat since LSU's Aaron Nola did so in 2013.
McClain was named the Most Valuable Player at the Kleberg Bank College Classic last weekend and he extended his shutout streak to 17.0 consecutive innings in a complete-game shutout over Sam Houston State, a team that won 43 games a season ago. The Duluth, Ga., native allowed just four hits and no walks with just two runners advancing to second base, one doing so on a sacrifice hit and the other a steal. He is the first Tiger pitcher to toss a complete-game shutout since April 5, 2013, when former second-round draft pick Rob Zastryzny did so at Georgia. His 17.0 inning shutout streak is the longest by a Tiger since Jace James (Oklahoma City, Okla.) tossed 19.1 shutout innings to open the 2013 season.
He is the only pitcher in the SEC with a complete game shutout this season and leads the SEC in ERA, IP, wins, earned runs allowed, walks allowed and extra-base hits allowed. He has allowed just seven baserunners in his two starts this season and he retired the final eight batters of the game against Sam Houston State before freshman Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give him the win in a pitcher's duel.
Support of how dominant McClain has been is that fact that he has yet to allow an extra-base hit this season and is limiting batters to just .132 hitting. He has also yet to walk a batter this season. Sam Houston State entered the weekend averaging nearly seven runs per game before being shut down by McClain. He faced just three batters over the minimum in the start.
McClain and the Tigers are scheduled to open their home slate this Friday as they welcome UIC to Taylor Stadium for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. For all the latest on Mizzou baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on twitter @MizzouBaseball.