KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee ace Liam Doyle headlined a group of Vols who earned postseason All-America honors from Perfect Game on Tuesday as the junior lefthander was tabbed as the outlet’s National Pitcher of the Year.
Doyle was dominant throughout the season and helped lead UT to its fifth consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearance. The Derry, New Hampshire, native, finished his junior campaign with a 10-4 record and 3.20 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) and leads the nation with a Tennessee program record 164 strikeouts.
One of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB Draft, Doyle was the third player in UT history to garner SEC Pitcher of the Year honors and was also named the NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year.
On top of leading the NCAA in total strikeouts, Doyle also leads or is tied for the SEC lead in wins (10), WHIP (0.99) and strikeouts per nine innings (15.43), all of which also rank in the top 20 nationally.
Earlier this month, Doyle became just the third player in program history to be named a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, joining UT legends Todd Helton (1995) and Chris Burke (2001).
Fischer, Kilen, Clark Also Earn Perfect Game All-America Honors
Joining Doyle as Perfect Game All-America first-team selections were first baseman Andrew Fischer and second baseman Gavin Kilen. The Vols have now had nine different players earn first-team All-America status under head coach Tony Vitello.
Levi Clark was named a first-team Freshman All-American as a designated hitter to round out the group. He is the ninth Tennessee player to earn Freshman All-America recognition during Vitello’s tenure.
Fischer put together one of the most complete offensive seasons in program history, leading the Vols in OPS (1.257), runs (70), home runs (25), RBIs (65), total bases (165), slugging percentage (.760), on-base percentage (.497) and walks (63). His 63 walks tied Chase Headley’s program record from 2005 while his 25 long balls led the SEC and are the second most in a single season in UT history.
The Manasquan, New Jersey, native, was the only player in the country to reach base in every game this season, getting on in all 65 contests for the Big Orange. Fischer’s marks in homers (third), walks (fourth), slugging percentage (12th) and total bases (16th) all rank in the top 20 nationally.
Kilen also had a career year for the Vols, leading the team with a .357 batting average and four triples. The junior infielder also ranked second on the team in OPS (1.112), homers (15), total bases (141) and slugging percentage (.671) despite missing 12 games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury.
Clark got off to red hot start to his collegiate career and also had a strong finish to the year as Tennessee’s primary designated hitter.
The Marietta, Georgia, native, ranked second on the team with a .459 on-base percentage and finished the season with nine doubles, 10 home runs, 34 RBIs, 35 walks and a 1.053 OPS.
