University of Florida first baseman Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.) was named as the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the second time on Monday after leading the Gators with a .522 (12-for-23) batting average in five games last week, four of them wins. He totaled 21 RBI, scored eight runs, cranked four homers and had a slugging percentage of 1.043.

Over the weekend, the rookie helped Florida end a six-game road series losing streak in SEC play by hitting .333 (5-for-15) at Auburn with four runs and three multiple-RBI efforts. In the finale, he snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the fourth inning as the Gators notched a 5-1 triumph.

Last Wednesday, Tucker tied the SEC single-game mark and established a school record with 11 RBI in 16-3 win over UCF. He matched the school record with three homers and became just the third player in SEC history to belt two grand slams in the same outing. Amazingly, the Tampa native went yard in three consecutive at bats - fifth (grand slam), sixth (three-run shot) and seventh (grand slam). Tucker went 4-for-4 with four RBI and a solo homer on Tuesday in a 12-7 victory over Bethune-Cookman.

Riding a career-high six-game hitting streak, Tucker is batting a team-best .359 on the season and also leads the Gators in slugging percentage (.624), total bases (73), RBI (45), multiple-RBI games (11), home runs (seven) and sacrifice flies (three). He is tied with sophomore Josh Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) for the top spot in SEC play with a .362 (21-for-58) clip and has driven in 22 runs, a total that is second in the league. Over Florida's last 10 games, the rookie has a .442 (19-for-43) average with a whopping 30 RBI, 11 runs and seven extra-base hits.

No. 20 Florida (23-12/9-6 SEC) returns to action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. by traveling to Tallahassee to face No. 22 Florida State (21-11/9-7 ACC). The teams have split a pair of meetings this season, with the Gators collecting a 5-4 win at McKethan Stadium on St. Patrick's Day, and the Seminoles notching a 3-2 victory in five innings on March 31 at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

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