Huston-Tillotson sweeps Week 5 HBCUAC Softball Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Huston-Tillotson University infielder Denae Hernandez wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Alexis Tamez garners Pitcher and Newcomer of the Week. Kieana Cruz takes home Freshman of the Week. The athletes were recognized for their performance between February 23-March 2, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Hernandez had an exceptional week, going 9-for-13 at the plate with at least one hit and one RBI in all five games for Huston-Tillotson. She was instrumental in HT's series sweep of Voorhees to open HBCU Athletic Conference play, going 7-for-8 with a triple and an RBI. Hernandez also scored four runs during the weekend series sweep. Defensively, she was solid, handling 10 of 11 fielding chances cleanly. Her only error occurred in a non-conference road game against NCAA Division I Texas Southern. Additionally, Hernandez was perfect on the base paths during the conference series sweep, successfully stealing two bases.

Tamez won two of HT's three conference games as the Rams swept their first-ever HBCU Athletic Conference series. She struck out 15 batters over 10 innings in her two conference wins, including a two-hit shutout on Sunday. Tamez also went 2-for-5 at the plate with a double, three RBIs, and two runs scored in the three-game HBCUAC series.

Cruz went 4-for-11 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs in HT's five games this week. She recorded all four RBI and went 3-for-6 during HT's series sweep of Voorhees to open HBCU Athletic Conference play. Cruz hit a two-run home run in HT's 9-0 win to conclude the series on Sunday. She drew two walks and stole a base in the only game against Voorhees in which she didn't hit safely. Defensively, Cruz handled 12 of 13 fielding chances, and had a 1.000 fielding percentage in her four games at third base this week.

Additional weekly softball nominees: Ka'Nijha Arrington (Oakwood), Ciara Bowe (Talladega), Sariya Calhoun (Wiley), Karli Crocker (Stillman), Aidan Johnson (Talladega), Anna Jones (Oakwood), Avery Lumpkin (Stillman), Emma Newby (Oakwood), Serenity Smith (Wiley)

2026 HBCUAC Softball 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.