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NCAA.com | April 9, 2018

Florida's breakout star Liput is named Player of the Week

UF's Deacon Liput put on a show at Tennessee and Florida Golf Coast. Finishing the week with a .450 average.

Now into the heart of conference season in college baseball, the margin for error becomes slimmer. One team in particular took advantage of a tough schedule.

Let’s take a dive into this week’s NCAA.com’s Team and Player of the Week:

Team of the Week

With five games on their schedule, the Arkansas Razorbacks (24-9, 8-4 SEC) held their own against No. 15 Auburn in a three-game sweep, and squeaked past ULM in two games to finish the week a perfect 5-0. To cap off the series, it was the heroics of Heston Kjerstad’s walk-off single that proved to be the difference maker in the 5-4 win.

For the first time since 1990, Arkansas has won its first six conference home games. Much to the delight of the Razorbacks, they have a quick chance to continue the streak this week with a three-game series vs. South Carolina.

Quick Arkansas facts:

• Game three’s walk-off win vs. Auburn is the third of the season for Arkansas.

• Hit .310 as a team and now have 56 home runs in 2018, most in the SEC.

Honorable Mention

Winners of six of their last seven, the East Carolina Pirates claimed two wins against Washington and finished the week 4-1 to move from No. 12 in the country to No. 7.

Player of the Week

In one of the biggest weeks of his collegiate baseball career, Florida’s Deacon Liput put on a show at Tennessee and Florida Golf Coast. Finishing the week with a .450 average (9-20), the junior swatted two home runs and corralled seven RBIs. Liput had one long ball and 13 RBIs entering the week.

In the last two games of the week against Tennessee, Liput notched three hits apiece; marking the first time this season he had three or more hits in back-to-back games.

Quick Liput facts:

• Currently owns an eight-game hitting streak and has at least one hit in 14 of his last 16 games played.

• Second on the team with .329 average

Honorable Mention

Matt Wallner of Southern Mississippi has been on a tear, carving up pitching with a 6-15 week including two home runs (one grand slam) and 10 RBIs.