TSU Shea Morris, Lindsey Burgess Honored by Ohio Valley Conference

Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Shea Morris and Lindsey Burgess were named Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher and Co-Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday. This marks the first time in school history two Tigers were honored in the same week.

 

This is the fourth time Morris has been honored by the OVC in her career and the first for Burgess.

 

"I am proud of both of them," head coach Jeff Dabney said. "They had great weekends and having the OVC recognize the efforts of these two is an honor we all will cherish."

 

Morris guided the Tigers to a 6-1 record on the week and a championship at the Tiger Invitational. The junior finished the week with a 3-0 record and collected three saves without yielding an earned run (0.00) and holding opponents to a 0.99 ERA, while striking out 29 in 19.2 innings of work.

 

The Lawrenceburg, Tenn., native threw a complete game one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in a five-inning 8-0 win in the TI Championship game to close out the week. Morris appeared in all five games at the Invitational, the first four in a relief role. Morris entered three games with the go-ahead or tying runs on base, only to fan the final batter to secure the wins for the Tigers.

 

Morris teamed up with Hannah St. Clair for a shutout victory Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday. A day later, Morris combined with Olivia Gamache to hold Saint Louis scoreless. For her efforts, Morris was named to the Tiger Invitational all-tournament team.

 

The third-year pitcher now sits atop the career lists at TSU in strikeouts, innings pitched, wins and saves.

 

Burgess went 10-for-22 on the week, batting .455, with four doubles, a home run and scored seven runs, while driving in seven in seven games. The sophomore reached safely in six games and recorded four multiple hit games. Burgess notched two sacrifice flies for a pair of RBI in the lone game she did not collect a hit.

 

The Palmdale, Calif., product had two separate two double outings. Burgess scored a run and was hit by a pitch in the first of the two in game two versus Holy Cross on Tuesday and scored a run in the first game against Saint Louis on Saturday. The shortstop hit a solo home run in the night game versus SLU in a 2-for-3 performance where she crossed home plate twice.

 

Burgess was named TI Most Valuable Player for her accomplishments over the three-day event.

 

Morris shared the award with Jacksonville State’s Sara Borders who finished 5-for-7 (.714) in two games. Borders had a double and two home runs, while scoring and driving in three.

 

TSU will travel to face #17 Georgia for a midweek game before returning home to open Ohio Valley Conference play against Eastern Kentucky. 

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION