NEW ORLEANS – Wiley University first baseman Ivan Del Villar wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Player of the Week. Nick Rodriguez wins Pitcher of the Week. John Barajas earned Newcomer of the Week. Wilberforce University third baseman Adam Mendoza claims Freshman of the Week. The athletes were honored for their performance between February 9-15, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Del Villar proved to be highly productive at the plate, going 4-for-8 with four RBIs over the series. Against Texas College in the opener, he recorded two hits and drove in two runs. He was instrumental in the opener against Central Baptist, hitting a double and a sacrifice fly that plated the go-ahead run. In the second contest against Central Baptist, his sacrifice fly provided an RBI that helped the Wildcats overcome a two-run deficit. He later singled in the seventh inning and scored the game-tying run.
Rodriguez earned two wins in his starts last week. He began with a pre-arranged two-inning appearance against Texas College, where he only allowed one hit and recorded one strikeout. In Thursday’s game against Central Baptist, Rodriguez quickly settled in after the Mustangs scored three unearned runs in the first inning. He proceeded to shut down the offense, only allowing two runners to reach base over his final five innings of work.
Barajas was a major contributor for the Wildcats, both at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, he scored four runs and hit his second home run in the opening game against Central Baptist on Thursday, sparking a rally from a three-run deficit. He also scored the go-ahead run in the second game against Central Baptist after reaching base in the seventh inning. On the pitching side, he threw two innings in the second game against Texas College, recording one strikeout.
Mendoza recorded two hits and scored two runs to lift the Bulldogs to their first victories over Alice Lloyd College. He drove in two runs in the second game. Mendoza reached base in five of seven plate appearances (.714 on-base percentage).
Additional baseball weekly nominees: Diego Duque (Talladega), Braylon Guerin (SUNO), Luis Perdomo (Talladega), Jonathan Phillips (Stillman), Victor Rivera (Talladega), Xavier Thompson (Wilberforce), Javarey Valentine (Wiley)
2026 HBCUAC Baseball Players of the Week
| Date | Player | Pitcher | Freshman | Newcomer |
| Jan. 22-Feb. 1 | Jose Villalobos, Wiley | Ethan Walker, Huston-Tillotson | Daniel de los Rios, Wiley | Evan Mendoza, Huston-Tillotson |
| Feb. 2-8 | Jhemmal Geraldo, SUNO | Diego Duque, Talladega | Jason Matthews, SUNO | Jhemmal Geraldo, SUNO |
| Feb. 9-15 | Ivan Del Villar, Wiley | Nick Rodriguez, Wiley | Adam Mendoza, Wilberforce | John Barajas, Wiley |
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.
Source: HBCU Athletic Conference Communications Department