Cornell College sophomore Walker Breard awaits the pitch during this weekend’s Midwest Conference series versus the Illinois College Blueboys. Photo courtesy of Cornell College Athletics.

An offensive explosion Sunday helped a former Washington Demon baseball player earn a weekly accolade from the Midwest Conference. The 11-team Division III league has named Cornell sophomore Walker Bread this week’s Hitter of the Week for his four-game performance against Illinois College (11-8 overall) this past weekend.

Breard, a 2014 Washington graduate, recorded a batting average of .467 and a slugging percentage of 1.200 in the conference’s opening series versus the Blueboys. His efforts helped the Rams win three of the four games against Illinois College. Breard went 4-for-4 with three solo home runs in a 11-0 victory in the series finale. It marked the fourth time in his short career that he’s produced multiple home runs in a game. Breard finished Sunday’s doubleheader going 7-for-9 at the plate with four RBIs, five runs and five extra-base hits.

On the season, Breard has hit six home runs and driven in 26 runs, ranking him second in the Midwest Conference in both categories. He has produced 16 home runs and hit in 62 runs in 51 collegiate games for the Rams.

The Cornell College Rams enter this weekend’s play with a record of 13-7 overall, and a 3-1 record in Midwest Conference play. The Rams and the Monmouth College Fighting Scots (10-11 overall) will play a four-game series this Saturday and Sunday. The Rams are scheduled to host a doubleheader Saturday in Mount Vernon. Monmouth will host the final two games Sunday afternoon. Listen to an interview with Breard on the PM Sports Page, debuting tonight at 6 p.m. on KCII.