Del Villar, Barajas win Week 7 HBCUAC Honors

After leading their team to a sweep over Philander Smith University in a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) series, Ivan Del Villar garners Player of the Week and John Barajas claims Newcomer of the Week for March 9-15, the conference announced Monday.

Del Villar lit up Philander Smith, hitting .636 and slugging 1.364. In the opener he hit his first two home runs of the season and drove in three runs and scored three runs. He went 3-for-5 in Game 2 with two runs and two RBIs. Del Villar was also the winning pitcher, throwing three innings and striking out two. In the finale, he went 2-for-4 with a bases-clearing triple, two runs and four RBI. For the week he scored seven runs and drove in nine. He moved to a tie for fourth in the HBCUAC with 20 RBI. This is his second weekly honor. He won Player of the Week for February 9-15.

Barajas played a key role at the plate and on the mound. In the first game, he stopped a Philander Smith rally and got the final three outs to secure an 11-6 victory. He hit his third home run and drove in three runs in Game 2. Barajas hit an RBI triple in the finale, driving in two runs. He is tied for fourth in the HBCUAC with three home runs. This is the Barajas' second honor after winning Newcomer of the Week on February 9-15.

The awards give the Wildcats eight weekly honors. They visit Nelson University at 3 p.m. Tuesday and host Dillard University for an HBCUAC series on Saturday and Sunday.