ARLINGTON, Texas – Tarleton State’s Brandon Howell and UT Arlington’s Zach Norris have been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, for the game week ending on Sunday, Feb. 25.
 
Howell, a junior infielder, split time at first base and designated hitter for the Texans during an undefeated homestand against UTSA and Northern Colorado last week. Howell batted .455 with four extra-base hits that included two home runs, nine RBI, eight runs scored, a .684 on-base percentage and a 1.273 slugging percentage. Howell drove in six runs on the strength of two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, in a 14-10 win over UTSA on Feb. 20. Howell reached base five times and scored three runs in the series opener with Northern Colorado on Feb. 23 and reached safely an additional five times with an RBI and two runs scored in the series finale on Feb. 25.
 
Norris, a senior right-handed pitcher, was sensational for UTA in his first home start of 2024 in a matchup against Boston College on Feb. 23. Norris tossed seven innings of four-hit baseball, allowing a solo home run and issuing one free pass by way of a hit by pitch, while striking out 13 Eagles on 94 pitches to earn the victory in an 11-6 UTA triumph.
 
2024 TicketSmarter WAC Baseball Weekly Awards
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brandon Howell, Jr., INF, Tarleton State (Feb. 26)
Beau Ankeney, Jr., INF, Grand Canyon (Feb. 19)
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Zach Norris, Sr., RHP, UT Arlington (Feb. 26)
Iain Campa, Jr., RHP, Abilene Christian (Feb. 19)