Illinois second baseman Michael Massey was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Massey hit .500 (8-16) in four games with four RBIs.
Massey started the week with two three-hit games, one Tuesday against Western Michigan and again Friday at Purdue, tying his career high twice. He continued with hits in each of the next two games against Purdue to extend his hitting streak to a career-long nine games.
The Western Michigan game was one of the best of his young career. He went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a career-best three runs scored, while finishing a triple away from the cycle.
Massey has been Illinois' hottest hitter in the last two weeks. During his nine-game hitting streak, he is batting .395 (15-38) with nine RBIs, five runs, four doubles and a homer. The Palos Park, Illinois, native has gone 25 straight at-bats without a strikeout and now ranks ranks 18th in the nation in strikeout rate (16.6 AB/SO) and fourth in the nation among freshmen.
Massey has raised his batting average to .302, while also playing solid defense at second base. He has helped the Illini rank 15th in the nation and third in the Big Ten with 1.03 double plays per game.
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