March 24, 2008

Chicago, Ill.- UIC junior first baseman Brett Schaefer (Orland Park, Ill./Brother Rice) was named the Horizon League Player of the Week for the period ending March 24, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.

During a week in which the Flames won all five of their games and featured six players who hit .350 or better, Schaefer was a balanced offensive force. He batted .450 (9-for-20) with a double, a homer, four RBI and eight runs scored.

The third-year veteran drove in a key insurance run during the Flames' 2-1 win over Milwaukee in Sunday's doubleheader opener and scored the game-tying run in UIC's eventual 5-4 victory over the Panthers in the nightcap of the twinbill.

Schaefer is now hitting .304 (17-for-56) through 16 games this season, with three doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and a team-leading 14 runs scored to his credit. He has a team-high six-game hitting streak entering this week's slate.

The honor is Schaefer's first career League Player of the Week award and the second for a Flames player this season. Grant Kohlstaedt was named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week on March 11.

UIC hosts St. Francis this Tuesday, March 25 at Les Miller Field beginning at 4:05 p.m.