March 23, 2015

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After leading Kentucky to a series win over No. 20 Mississippi State, Kentucky junior centerfielder Kyle Barrett has been named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

A native of Douglasville, Ga., Barrett had a prolific week in leading the Wildcats to a series win over the Bulldogs, batting .556 (10-for-18) with a homer, seven runs scored and four RBI. Barrett reached base safely in 12 of 20 trips to the plate on the week and extended his six-game hitting streak – five of which were multi-hit games – during the week.

Barrett tied his career-high with a 4-for-5 game in a series-clinching win on Saturday, after belting his first homer of the year, adding a walk, in the opener. He finished the weekend series with MSU with a 3-for-5 outing, scoring a pair of runs.

On the year, Barrett leads UK in hitting with a .396 mark (42-for-106) with 22 runs, five doubles, one homer, 13 RBI, a .439 on-base percentage and six steals. A 2013 Freshman All-SEC selection, Barrett leads the SEC with 42 hits and in his 23 games on the year, has a total of 15 multiple-hit games.

Kentucky (15-8, 2-4 SEC) will return to action with a five-game week, traveling to face Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, before hosting Morehead State on Wednesday at 4 p.m. UK will then travel to No. 1 LSU for a three-game series, starting on Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Alex Box Stadium.