VIDEO: Kolton Casson Interview

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the second time this season, Carson-Newman freshman pitcher Kolton Casson (Benton, Tenn.) has been named the WePlayed Sports South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.

This is Casson's third career weekly honor, and second from the South Atlantic Conference. He becomes the first Eagle to be recognized for multiple weekly honors since Vince Apicella was conference pitcher of the week twice in 2016.

In Carson-Newman's series finale with UVA Wise, Casson struck out 13 batters in his fourth complete game of the year. The rookie allowed a leadoff home run to Nick Badgett but responded by tossing six consecutive scoreless innings to win his ninth game in his ninth career start.

Casson struck out the side in the 3rd and 7th innings. Eight of the final 10 outs he recorded in the game were strikeouts. The 13-strikeout day is the most strikeouts by an Eagles pitcher since Dillon Cate punched out 15 versus Northwood on Feb 18, 2018.

Well have a day there kid�� @koltoncasson11 @CNBaseball x #TalonsUp pic.twitter.com/CGR8zEDqmj

— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) March 30, 2025

The rookie pitcher has been spectacular on the mound this season. Casson has won all nine of his starts, the most in DII this season. Currently, he ranks tied for sixth all-time with Grif Hughes for most wins in a single-season season in C-N's DII history. Matt Huskey holds the all-time wins mark in a season with 13 during the 2002 season.

The freshman has 59 strikeouts over 55.1 innings with a 2.11 ERA this season. His 59 strikeouts are third-most in the SAC. Casson's 5.90 strikeout to walk ratio is the second-best in the SAC and top 30 nationally.

Casson's pitching has gone to another level in South Atlantic Conference play. The right-hander has allowed just two earned runs or less in all six of his starts in league play and has a 1.18 earned run average. Three of his four complete games are in SAC play.

Casson and the Eagles are back in action today against Alabama Huntsville. First pitch from Charger Park is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The game will air with a free audio stream available courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network on cneagles.com/live.