Wilberforce, SUNO, Rust, Huston-Tillotson claim final HBCUAC Baseball Weekly Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Wilberforce University designated hitter Christopher Alcantra-Diaz won Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Baseball Player of the Week. Southern University at New Orleans pitcher Christopher Nunez garners Pitcher of the Week. Rust College designated hitter Jamen Francis takes Freshman of the Week. Huston-Tillotson University pitcher Weston Bailey earns Newcomer of the Week. They were honored for their performance between April 13-19 for the final weekly awards, the conference announced on Monday.

Alcantra-Diaz went 7-for-14 in four games, scored nine runs with nine RBI. Four of his hits came in a three-game HBCUAC series against Rust College, which included two doubles and a home run. He drove in five runs and scored five to help the Bulldogs clinch an HBCUAC Championship berth for the second straight season. For the week, he posted a 1.429 slugging percentage.

Nunez threw a two-hit shutout in the series opener against Wiley University. He struck out 10 batters and only needed 95 pitches to get through 7 innings, earning his fifth win of the season. Nunez ranks in the top five in the conference in ERA, wins and strikeouts.

Francis went 4-for-8 in the three-game series against Wilberforce. Three of his four hits went for extra bases with two doubles and a home run. He drove in seven runs and scored three. Francis posted a 1.125 slugging percentage.

Bailey won his seventh consecutive start and posted his second straight shutout. He increased his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 23. He held Tougaloo to four hits and struck out seven batters. He is tied for the conference lead with seven wins.

Additional baseball weekly nominees: Noah Alvarez (Huston-Tillotson), Andres Anez (Wilberforce), Camden Armon (Tougaloo), Tyron Brickhill (Philander Smith), Christopher Brock (Rust), Addison Brown (Philander Smith), Jayden Clay (Voorhees), Darriel Cole (Philander Smith), Ivan Del Villar (Wiley), Diego Duque (Talladega), Manuel Duran (Voorhees), Ethan Farrell (Voorhees), Reginald Faison (Voorhees), Devin Gladney (Wiley), Mekha Hicks (Stillman), Jordan Jennings (Oakwood), Arvis Latting (Rust), Manuel Martinez (Talladega), Eli Payne (Talladega), Nick Rodriguez (Wiley), Kane Shellhouse (Stillman), Kyler Shepherd (SUNO), Aaditya Sur (Philander Smith), Chace Varnado (Tougaloo)

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.