Vols Liam Doyle Named SEC Pitcher of the Year
(utsports.com) Tennessee had four players earn Southeastern Conference postseason honors as the league announced its yearly award winners and All-SEC teams on Monday afternoon.
Headlining the group of Volunteers was Liam Doyle, who was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year and a first-team selection after a dominant season on the mound for the Big Orange.
Joining Doyle on the All-SEC first team was Andrew Fischer (first base) and Gavin Kilen (second base). Hunter Ensley rounded out UT’s representation by garnering All-SEC second team and SEC All-Defensive team honors as an outfielder.
Tennessee’s three first-team selections were the second most in the league behind Arkansas, who had four. The full list of postseason award winners and All-SEC teams can be found HERE.
More information on each of Tennessee’s selections is below.
Liam Doyle – SEC Pitcher of the Year | All-SEC First Team (SP)
Doyle is just the third Vol to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year, joining Luke Hochevar (2005) and Chase Dollander (2022). Tennessee’s undisputed ace was the starter for two combined no-hitters this year and was tabbed the SEC Pitcher of the Week three times, marking a single-season program record.
The junior lefthander has put together one of the most dominant seasons by a UT pitcher in program history to this point, leading the country with 137 strikeouts, a mark that also ranks tied for third most in Tennessee single-season history. He needs just 18 more strikeouts to surpass Hochevar’s record of 154 set in 2005.
Doyle’s 15.54 strikeouts per nine innings also lead the nation while his 0.92 WHIP is the best in the SEC and ranks 12th nationally. The Derry, New Hampshire, native’s nine victories are tied for 12th most in the NCAA and first in the SEC while his 5.45 hits allowed per nine innings rank eighth and second, respectively. Doyle has held opponents to a miniscule .171 batting average over 79.1 innings pitched, second lowest in the SEC.
Andrew Fischer – All-SEC First Team (1B)
After earning second-team All-SEC honors at Ole Miss in 2024, Fischer elevated his game to another level with the Vols this season, leading the league in home runs (22), slugging percentage (.779), on-base percentage (.501), OPS (1.281) and walks (56).
The Manasquan, New Jersey, native, has reached base in all 56 games this season, the only player in the conference to do so. Fischer also leads the team with 141 total bases and ranks second on the team with 60 runs scored while batting at a .337 clip.
The junior first baseman was also among the league leaders in conference play, slashing .340/.478/.736 while belting 11 homers and nine doubles to go along with 27 walks.
Gavin Kilen – All-SEC First Team (2B)
Following a breakout season at Louisville in 2024, Kilen transitioned just fine into the country’s top conference. Despite missing three weeks of SEC play with a hamstring injury, Kilen still put up impressive overall numbers and has been a staple at the top of UT’s lineup.
The Milton, Wisconsin, native, ranks second on the team with 14 home runs and 119 total bases. Kilen’s .355 batting average ranks ninth in the SEC while his .692 slugging percentage is third and his three triples are tied for fourth. He is also third on the team in hits (61), extra-base hits (27), runs scored (48) and stolen bases (six).
Hunter Ensley – All-SEC Second Team (OF) | SEC All-Defensive Team
Ensley has made the most of his final season on Rocky Top, earning SEC postseason honors for the first time after setting career highs in a handful of offensive categories, including batting average (.350), hits (72), doubles (16), RBIs (60), slugging percentage (.573) and on-base percentage (.423).
The redshirt senior center fielder has been the Vols’ most consistent hitter from start to finish this season, leading the team with 72 hits, 16 doubles and 60 RBIs. Ensley ranks top seven in the SEC in hits, doubles and RBIs. In conference only games, Ensley finished third in the league with 34 runs driven in.
The Huntingdon, Tennessee, native, also earned SEC All-Defensive team recognition for his impressive play in center field for the Big Orange, posting a .990 fielding percentage with 93 putouts and two outfield assists.
