ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington’s Xavier Melendez and California Baptist’s Michael Malki have been named the University Credit Union Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, for the game week ending on Sunday, March 15.

Melendez, a senior infielder, batted .467 with a home run, nine RBIs and a 1.312 on-base/slugging percentage in a 2-2 UTA week that included a series victory against NCAA RPI Quad 1 foe UTSA. Melendez reached base six times in the series opener at UTSA on March 13, driving in five runs for the Mavericks in a wild 15-11 win. Melendez belted his first home run of the season and registered three RBIs in an 11-8 UTA triumph on March 14 to claim the series.

Malki, a sophomore right-handed pitcher, improved to 4-0 in the 2026 season following a quality start for CBU in a 5-1 win over Harvard on March 13 in Riverside. Malki threw six innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits while walking two and striking out eight opposing batters. Over his first six appearances this season (five starts), Malki is the conference leader in pitching wins, strikeouts (39) and batting average against (.155).

2026 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Weekly Awards

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Xavier Melendez, Sr., INF, UT Arlington (March 16)
Bryce McFeely, Grad, OF, California Baptist (March 9)
Kaden Carpenter, Sr., OF, Utah Valley (March 2)
Kyle McDaniel, Jr., 2B, Utah Tech (Feb. 23)
Sergio Guerra, Sr., C, Tarleton State (Feb. 16)

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist (March 16)
Cort Lowry, So., RHP, Tarleton State (March 9)
Talan Kelly, So., RHP, Utah Tech (March 2)
Ryne Palmer, Sr., RHP, California Baptist (Feb. 23)
Ryan Kroepel, Jr., RHP, Utah Tech (Feb. 16)