ST. LOUIS, Mo. - For the first time in his career, freshman Brayden Bakes has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
Bakes is the second player this season to win an award for the Redbirds.
The Algonquin, Ill. native led the Redbirds with five hits over 10 at-bats (.500) as the Redbirds took two of three over the Bruins to open MVC play.
In the series clinching win at Belmont on Sunday, Bakes finished 3-for-3 with three home runs, six RBIs, and four runs scored to lead the Redbirds to an 14-2 win. Bakes finished the weekend with a team-leading seven RBIs as well.
Bakes becomes the first Redbird to homer three times in a single game since Ryan Cermak in 2022 and is the first Redbird with three extra-base hits since Daniel Pacella at Ball State earlier this season.
His four runs are the first time a Redbird has scored four runs in a game since Shai Robinson last May. Finally, with his six RBIs on Sunday, Bakes is the first Redbird athlete to record six RBIs in a game since Judah Morris versus Belmont last May.
Bakes added three walks for a .615 OBP while slugging 1.700 and recording 17 total bases as the Redbird DH over the weekend.
The Redbirds will return to action at 5 p.m. CT Tuesday for a mid-week battle versus Iowa at Duffy Bass Field.
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