LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky outfielder Jason Kipnis has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

?Jason Kipnis came through for us in a big way this weekend,? Kentucky head coach John Cohen said. ?We really needed some people to step up and he was definitely one of those guys. For a kid who is playing his first weekend of college baseball, he couldn?t have had a better weekend.?

Kipnis, a native of Northbrook, Ill., had a breakout weekend in his first action as a college baseball player, batting 5-for-9 while pacing a potent Wildcat lineup which plated 41 runs in a three-game sweep of Furman.

Kipnis scored seven times, while driving in four runs. He blasted his first career home run to lead off the sixth inning of Saturday?s win over the Paladins and later in the inning would hit his second home run – part of a nine-run sixth inning. Combined with a triple, Kipnis finished the weekend with a 1.444 slugging percentage, in addition to stealing one base in his only attempt.

True to the character of a John Cohen coached offense, Kipnis was hit by three pitches during the series. He also drew a walk to catapult his on-base percentage to .643. The left-fielder proved to be a weapon in the field as well, making several tough plays in a stiff Greenville, S.C. wind.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Kipnis went 3-for-5 on Saturday, with two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI. On Friday, he went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. In three games, Kipnis took 13 total bases.

Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday as it opens up the home portion of its schedule with in-state rival Murray State. For ticket information, contact the UK ticket office (859.257.1818). First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.