Missouri State sophomore outfielder Ryan Mantle has been named this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, it was announced by the league office Monday afternoon.

The Bears’ left fielder hit .500 and led the team in hits (10), doubles (3), RBIs (9) and total bases (18) in helping the team to a 4-1 record.

Mantle drove in Missouri State’s first run of the game three times, each being a game-winning RBI as it put MSU ahead for good. The Wildwood, Mo., native went 4-for-7 in the Southeast Missouri State midweek series with three RBIs.

He doubled and had an RBI in Friday’s game with Bradley, and used the final two games of the weekend to combine for the cycle. He tripled in the first inning and singled in the seventh of Saturday’s game, and added a home run (1st), single (2nd) and double (4th) in Sunday’s contest. The feat took seven at bats, and four of the hits resulted in RBIs. Mantle has driven in a run in six consecutive games and now has 13 RBIs in nine league games.

Mantle is the first Bears baseball player to be honored as MVC Player of the Week since Tim Rafferty in the final week of the 2005 season.