CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois first baseman Bren Spillane was named Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday, becoming the first player in conference history to earn the award three straight weeks. Illinois is the first team in Big Ten history to win the conference's weekly award five straight weeks.

April 2 Player of the Week: .727 (8-11), 5 HR, 2B, 7 RBI, 6 BB, 2 SB
March 26 Player of the Week: .643 (9-14), 3 HR, 3 2B, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 3 SB
March 19 Player of the Week: .600 (9-15), 3 HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 2 SB

Illinois has tied its program record with five total Big Ten Player of the Week awards, which it also achieved in 2009 and 2015. Spillane joins Michael Massey (March 5) and Doran Turchin (March 12) as Illini to win Big Ten Player of the Week.

Illinois Big Ten Players of the Week
March 5: Michael Massey
March 12: Doran Turchin
March 19: Bren Spillane
March 26: Bren Spillane
April 2: Bren Spillane

After going 9-for-14 (.643) with three homers, three doubles and 10 RBIs last week, Spillane had even better numbers this week. Spillane hit five homers and only got out three times in four games to produce an eye-popping .727/.833/2.181 slash line and a 3.015 OPS.

Spillane had twice as many extra-base hits (6) as outs (3) during the week, two multi-home run games, a four-hit game and a four-walk game. He went 6-for-8 (.667) with three homers in the first two games of the series against Iowa and by the third game the Hawkeyes pitched around him with four walks.

Spillane is on an incredible three-week stretch, hitting .676 (25-37) with 11 homers and 23 RBIs in the last 11 games. He leads the nation in slugging percentage (1.149), is tied for the national lead in homers (14) and ranks second in batting average (.494).

Spillane Weekly Highlights
• Hit five homers and only got out three times in four games
• Reached base four times in all four games
• Two multi-HR games
• .727/.833/2.182 for a 3.015 OPS 
• Had twice as many extra-base hits (6) as outs (3) 
• Career-high four hits and four runs scored Saturday against Iowa
• Hit .667 (6-9) with three HR in the weekend series against Iowa
• Career-high four walks Sunday against Iowa, as they pitched around him all game