ARLINGTON, Texas – Tarleton State’s Slade McCloud and California Baptist’s Ryne Palmer 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, April 26.
 
McCloud, a senior infielder, collected a .625 batting average after recording a hit in all four Tarleton State games last week with three multi-hit games. McCloud began the week with a 3-for-4 performance against Texas Tech where he drove in a run on an RBI triple. McCloud then opened the series against Utah Valley with a 4-for-4 day at the plate, driving in four runs on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. McCloud would finish the week with a home run, two triples, a double, nine RBIs and six runs scored.  
 
Palmer, a senior right-handed pitcher, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in California Baptist’s rubber match against Utah Tech before surrendering his first hit and only hit of the game. Palmer’s season-high six scoreless innings on the mound was part of a two-hit shutout victory for the Lancers, the team’s fourth shutout victory of the season and first in WAC play.
 
2026 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Weekly Awards
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Slade McCloud Sr., INF, Tarleton State (April 27)
Miller Durham, Jr., INF, Utah Tech (April 20)
Xavier Melendez, Sr., INF, UT Arlington (April 13)
Erick Dessens, Jr., OF, Sacramento State (April 6)
Rayner Heinrich, So., UTL, Tarleton State (March 30)
Chris Ramirez, So., INF, California Baptist (March 23)
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
Ryne Palmer, Sr., RHP, California Baptist (April 27)
Ethan Lay, Sr., RHP, Sacramento State (April 23)
Bryan Peck, Grad, RHP, California Baptist (April 13)
Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist (April 6)
Ty Zahradnik, R-So., LHP, UT Arlington (March 30)
Ethan Lay, Sr., RHP, Sacramento State (March 23)
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)