Riley Mahan Named SEC Player of the Week

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Riley Mahan is the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week after a blistering week at the plate, it was announced Monday by the league office. It is Mahan’s first Player of the Week award, although he was SEC Freshman of the Week in March 2015.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior infielder was a driving force behind Kentucky’s perfect 5-0 week to begin its home schedule at Cliff Hagan Stadium. He hit .500 (9-of-18) for the week and posted a slugging percentage of .944 after smoking five doubles and a home run. The Cincinnati, Ohio native drove in 11 runs, including back-to-back games of a career-high-tying four against both Eastern Kentucky and Western Kentucky.

Mahan helped seal the Saturday’s win over No. 23 and 2016 College World Series participant UC Santa Barbara with a two-run home run in the sixth inning that gave the Cats a 3-0 lead in a game they would hold on to win 3-2. On Sunday, Mahan was 2-of-3 with two runs scored and an RBI double as UK completed the three-game sweep of the Gauchos.

The Cats’ starting second baseman is currently riding a career-long 10-game hitting streak and he set a career-high with three hits against Western Kentucky on March 1. He also scored six runs, drew a walk and was hit by two pitches during the week.

For the season, Mahan is now hitting .347 in 12 games with 13 runs, six doubles, three home runs and a team-high 17 RBI. He’s also stolen four bases. Through three weeks he is tied for second in the SEC in doubles and tied for third in RBI, just one off the league lead.

5 games (5 starts), .500 (9-of-18), 6 runs, 11 RBI, 5 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 HBP