NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s Blake Burke and Chase Dollander were named the baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from February 27-March 5.
Burke batted .500 (11-for-22) with two doubles, three home runs, 14 RBIs and five runs scored in five games for the Vols. The Brentwood, Calif., native posted three hits with a two-run single, an RBI single and a two-run homer in the first of two games against Charleston Southern. He collected a two-run single and another two-run homer in the second contest versus the Buccaneers.
The sophomore infielder posted six hits in 14 at-bats in a weekend series versus Gonzaga, including three hits and two RBIs in the opener. He added three more hits and a three-run homer in the second game against the Zags and walked and scored in the series finale.
Burke leads the club with a .420 batting average while registering seven home runs, 21 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 13 outings this season.
Dollander tossed six shutout innings in the series opener against Gonzaga, scattering six hits. The Evans, Ga., native did not walk a batter and struck out 11, retiring the side in order just once. The junior righthander worked around two singles to start the game and induced a ground ball doubleplay after a leadoff single in the third. The contest was scoreless until the Vols plated six combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Dollander posted his second straight double-digit strikeout effort and improved to 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA in three outings this year, giving up just 14 hits with two walks and 30 strikeouts in 17.1 innings.
2022-23 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 21 – Jack Roode, University of the South (Player); Jaden Hamm, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
February 28 – Jared Dickey, Tennessee (Player); Chase Burns, Tennessee (Pitcher)