CHICAGO – The Missouri Valley Conference announced its annual weekly honors Monday afternoon, naming junior Ashton Kampa as the MVC Player & Newcomer of the Week honors after a stellar showing in the batter's box in UIC's final four games at Curtis Granderson Stadium.

"Sometimes you can go on a heater like this and my challenge to Ashton is to keep being himself," head coach Sean McDermott said. "He is really confident and he's taking what the pitchers are giving. Kampa is hitting the ball out of the park but he's also hit ground balls that has won us games too."

Kampa batted .750 over the past week, collecting 15 hits, four home runs, four doubles, 11 RBI and scored eight times. He opened his week strong, going five-for-five against Milwaukee, collecting three home runs against the Panthers. The junior became the first player from the program to have a three-home run game since Kendall Ewell did against Bradley in May 2024.

After a two-hit, two-RBI day to open the series against Illinois State on Friday to contribute to the Flames' 10-2 win, Kampa would cap-off a four-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off RBI single against the Redbirds, 9-8. He finished the game going four-for-five with two RBI and scoring twice in the game.

Kampa would close out the weekend with another four-hit game, including a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to push the game into extra innings before the Redbird's secured the win in the tenth.

The junior's standout week earned him national attention, being named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Dick Houser Trophy's Co-Hitter of the Week. He was also selected as 64Analytics.com's top hitter of the week and recognized by D1Baseball.com as one of the nation's top 100 hitters of the week.

The Muskego, Wisconsin, native has put together an incredible stretch for the Flames over the past few weeks, and the numbers back it up. Kampa currently ranks first in the conference in batting average (.379), slugging percentage (.745) and tied for second in home runs (14) heading into the final week of MVC play.

Kampa becomes the first member of UIC to earn Player of the Week honors this season. He joins juniors Jake Busson and Mason Lei as the third member of the team to earn Newcomer of the Week.

The Flames are back in action this weekend on the road, as they take on Bradley (10-43, 5-16 MVC) at Dozer Park beginning Thursday with a
scheduled 6 p.m. (CT) first pitch. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available at UICFlames.com.

For more information on UIC Athletics and UIC baseball, visit UICFlames.com. Fans can also follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_Baseball and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_baseball and @uicflames).
 
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