O’Brien Named MAC Player of the Week
4/8/2019 3:32:00 PM | Baseball
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State senior Kian O'Brien was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office Monday afternoon. For the second week in a row and the third time this season, a member of the Kent State baseball team has been dubbed with a weekly honor.
O'Brien has been an offensive juggernaut in the heart of the Kent State batting order, hitting at a .471 clip through five games April 2-7. The Madison, Wis. native recorded an .882 slugging percentage on the week, crushing two home runs and a double and recording seven RBIs and six runs scored. He also drew four walks and was plunked twice to post a .609 on-base percentage.
Starting off the week with a win over Malone, O'Brien reached base four times, collecting free bases on three walks and a hit by pitch. He scored three of Kent State's nine runs of the game.
O'Brien's bat continued to spark the Kent State offense in the series opener against Western Michigan as he led the offense going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, two runs scored and home run on the night. His three-run blast over the wall in left field in the bottom of the third inning secured the Flashes' first win over the Broncos.
The senior veteran closed out the series with another multi-hit performance, collecting three hits and four RBIs. O'Brien knocked in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning with a double to right field and later extended the Flashes' lead to 7-2, launching a two-run moonshot to left.
On the season, O'Brien ranks ninth in the MAC in slugging percentage (.537) and seventh in home runs (4).
Up next, the Flashes will travel to Canisius College for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 9 at 3 p.m.
