LEXINGTON ? For the fourth time in six weeks, a Kentucky baseball player has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week as Sean Coughlin earned the honor for the second time, it was announced by the league office on Monday.
Coughlin led the UK to its first series victory over Florida since 1999 while batting .727 with a home run and seven RBIs. He added four doubles and scored seven runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth of game one.
At one point during the weekend, Coughlin had a hit in eight straight at bats, including five hits for extra-bases. In game two on Saturday, he posted career highs with four hits and four RBIs.
Coughlin?s series against the Gators was one of the best individually by a Wildcat since head coach John Cohen took over. His batting average and 1.364 slugging percentage are both the best series marks in the Cohen era.
Earlier in the year, Coughlin won the award after belting three home runs and two doubles in five games from Feb. 28-March 5. He is the only player in the league to win the honor twice this season.
Kentucky continued its dominance of the award this year, becoming just the third school in league history to win it four times in one season (Alabama ? 1991; Florida ? 2002).
Kentucky Moves Up To No. 19 In Rankings: With its series win over Florida, Kentucky?s third this year over a ranked team, the Wildcats climbed up to No. 19 in the Baseball America top 25.
It is the fourth straight week UK has been in the polls. The No. 19 position is the highest ranking for the team since holding down the No. 16 spot on March 14, 1994.
Entering the week, the Wildcats were ranked 23rd, but took two of three from No. 19 Florida while also beating rival Louisville to move up. It was the third time in four weeks UK took a series from a ranked foe.
Kentucky returns to action this weekend at No. 12 Arkansas. Game one of the three-game series is Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.