Wilberforce, Huston-Tillotson pitchers, Stillman garner Week 5 HBCUAC Baseball Honors

NEW ORLEANS - Wilberforce University shortstop Joe Mendy wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week. Huston-Tillotson University pitchers Ethan Walker claims Pitcher of the Week and Weston Bailey earns Newcomer of the Week. Stillman College outfielder Jonathan Phillips takes Freshmen of the Week. The athletes were honored for their performance between February 23-March 1, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Leading a 3-0 week for Wilberforce, Mendy was the team's top offensive performer. He posted a stellar slash line of .700 batting average, .727 on-base percentage and a .900 slugging percentage, which included two doubles, three RBI, one walk, and a stolen base. His strong week featured two separate three-hit games.

Walker improved to 4-1 with a stellar seven-inning performance against Arlington Baptist University. He struck out 11 batters and only issued two walks. Walker limited the Patriots to an earned run on seven hits.

Bailey earned his first career win with a complete game against Arlington Baptist on Saturday. He struck out six batters while limiting the Patriots to three runs on seven hits. 

Phillips went 4-for-5 with two runs, a double and two RBI against the University of Mobile on February 24. 

Additional weekly baseball nominees: Noah Alvarez (Huston-Tillotson), Christopher Brock (Rust), Adrian German (Huston-Tillotson), Jamison Green (Oakwood), Lekeidric Sutton (Tougaloo), Xavier Thompson (Wilberforce), Junior Veras Vasquez

2026 HBCUAC Baseball Players of the Week

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.