Gator Country

Left fielder Kelsey Bruder hit a home run in each game during the Gators' sweep of Auburn this weekend. / Gator Country file photo by Tim Casey

Gator softball senior Kelsey Bruder (Corona, Calif.) was named the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Week Monday following UF’s record weekend on the road at No. 24 Auburn. No. 10 Florida (37-7, 13-6 SEC) rallied for the series sweep, defeating AU 14-4, 8-2, and 13-4 (6) in a Saturday doubleheader and Sunday single game, respectively, after topping in-state opponent FIU, 8-0, in six innings last Wednesday.

For Bruder, the honor marks her second league accolade this season, as she was also named conference Player of the Week March 21 for her work against both Mississippi State and Ole Miss earlier in SEC Play. Florida has now racked up seven weekly honors in 2011, five in the SEC and two national.

Bruder knocked three homers out of the park against the Tigers, one in each game, to contribute to UF’s 15 overall round-trippers on the weekend. The Gators connected on five, two and eight homers, respectively, in each game against AU, setting a single-game record with eight Sunday. Florida now boasts 89 on the season and 43 in league play. Bruder was also 7-for-15 (.467) at the plate, tallying five RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base in the process. The Gator left fielder was 3-for-4 (.750) in Sunday’s action, contributing to a season-high 16-hit output that solidified Florida’s 13th straight win in the history of the series with Auburn.

Bruder has 52 RBI on the season, ranking second on the squad, while boasting an .809 slugging percentage, .512 on-base percentage and .405 batting clip. Bruder and the Gators look to carry their momentum through a mid-week tilt with UCF April 20, and then a three-game weekend series with league rival Alabama at home April 22-24.

2011 UF SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS

2/14/11: Stephanie Brombacher, SEC Pitcher of the Week
2/21/11: Stephanie Brombacher, SEC Pitcher of the Week
2/28/11: Hannah Rogers, SEC Pitcher of the Week
3/21/11: Kelsey Bruder, SEC Player of the Week
4/18/11: Kelsey Bruder, SEC Player of the Week

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