Villalobos, De los Rios claim opening HBCUAC Weekly Awards

After having a strong start to the season Wiley University baseball players Jose Villalobos wins Historically Black Colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Player of the Week and Daniel de los Rios garners Freshman of the Week. The athletes were recognized for their performances between January 19-February 1, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Villalobos recorded five hits in 12 at-bats and scored two runs in WIley's opening five games. Three of his hits came in the finale against No. 20 Texas A&M University-Victoria. He led off the fifth with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, he hit an infield single which loaded the bases and scored the tying run on a balk. Playing at shortstop and second base, Villalobos made one putout with four assists.

De los Rios reached base four times in his first two collegiate games. In Saturday's game against Texas A&M-Victoria, he recorded his first career hit and reached on a walk and a hit by pitch. He helped the Wildcats force extra innings. He made 13 putouts.

The Wildcats open the home schedule with a four-game series against Ecclesia College on Friday and Saturday at Coker Field.