NEW ORLEANS ? University of South Alabama senior shortstop Derek O'Reilly has been named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office.

“Derek had a tremendous week, and his performance played a major role in helping us win both conference games,” head coach Steve Kittrell said. “The team really needed those games, and he stepped up to deliver some big hits for us.”

O’Reilly hit .692 (9-for-13) on the week, helping the Jags take both games of a rain-shortened series on the road against Louisiana-Monroe. He doubled twice, hit his first triple of the season, drove in five runs and scored four times. He was also successful on both of his attempts to steal a base.

With hits in all three games, O’Reilly extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games. He has hit safely in 22 of the last 23 contests, with the only hitless game coming when he went 0-for-1 with a walk and two sacrifices. Over that 23-game span, O’Reilly has raised his batting average from .211 to .370.

His .446 batting average in conference games leads the league by 24 points over the next closest player, and his .370 batting average in all games ranks ninth in the conference.

O’Reilly’s award marks the fourth time a Jaguar has earned a weekly honor and the first time a USA player has been named Player of the Week this season. Matt Jackson (twice) and Lance Baxter have both earned Pitcher-of-the-Week honors.

The last time a Jag was named Player of the Week was when Clint Toomey won the final award of the 2007 season.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).