2026 WAC Baseball Weekly Release - Week 5

CBU RIDING HOT STREAK TOWARD CONFERENCE PLAY
Winners of eight of the past 10 games, California Baptist enters the second to last weekend before WAC competition begins with a 2026 record of 17-5 (.773). The Lancers led all WAC foes in team batting average (.309), runs scored (159), hits (240) and doubles (54) as of March 19. CBU also owned the best team ERA (3.34) and most strikeouts (286 in 202.0 IP) of any team in the conference.

KEY WINS FROM WAC TEAMS CONTINUE
UT Arlington continued to play its early role of spoiler against marquee opposition thus far in 2026 with a series triumph against Quad 1 NCAA RPI opponent UTSA last weekend. The Mavericks won a wild 15-11 result in game one and an 11-8 decision in game two to capture the series victory. In midweek action in Austin on March 17, Tarleton State rolled out with a convincing 6-1 win over No. 2 Texas. The Texans scored six unanswered runs after trailing 1-0 following the first inning, limiting the Longhorns to only two hits that included a lone base knock after a solo home run in the opening inning.

SAC STATE’S LAY SPINS A GEM AGAINST PACIFIC
In the opening game of a series split with Pacific on March 11, Sacramento State ace Ethan Lay went the distance in a 10-0 win for the Hornets that was shortened to seven innings by run rule. Lay surrendered two hits and one walk in the complete game victory, striking out six batters on just 69 pitches. In earning his first pitching win of the season, Lay lowered his 2026 ERA to 2.93.

UTAH TECH’S KROEPEL REMAINS AMONG NATION’S SAVES LEADERS
With six saves over his first six save opportunities, Utah Tech reliever Ryan Kroepel remained second in NCAA Division I baseball in saves as of March 18. Over his first eight pitching appearances of the season for the Trailblazers, while also serving as an everyday player in the lineup, Kroepel has compiled a 1-1 record, a 2.08 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 13.0 innings pitched to go along with his six saves.

WAC IN THE NCAA RPI
In the latest NCAA RPI rankings that were released on March 18, Tarleton State climbed up to 84th in the rankings following its midweek win over No. 4 RPI Texas on March 17. The 4-4 record for the Texans against the current RPI Top 100 also paced all WAC teams.