Stratton Earns SEC Freshman Of Week Honors
STARKVILLE, Miss. - An impressive season-ending pitching performance by Bulldog right-hander Chris Stratton has earned the rookie Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors. Stratton shared this week's award with Georgia shortstop Kyle Farmer.
Stratton tossed seven scoreless innings and held defending NCAA champion LSU to three singles in State's season-ending 2-1 Saturday win over the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Stratton struck out seven LSU batters. Another Bulldog freshman, Kendall Graveman, protected the MSU lead over the final two frames to earn his first save of the year.
It was the fifth quality start (six or more innings pitched/3 or fewer earned runs allowed) of the year and the third win in four SEC decisions for the former Tupelo (Miss.) High School standout. Stratton was one of only two rookie pitchers to draw starts in all 10 SEC weekends this season. Stratton led the MSU pitching staff in starts (14), innings pitched (78.1), and strikeouts (76), and led the league's freshman hurlers this season with 55 strikeouts in league play.