WACO, Texas – Julian Alvarez of Bacone College (Okla.) and Zach Smith of Texas Wesleyan University were named Red River Athletic Conference Baseball Co-Players of the Week for March 3-9, while Alberto Gutierrez of Northwood University (Texas) and Bacone’s Zach Wallis were recognized as RRAC Baseball Co-Pitchers of the Week for the same dates.

Alvarez, a junior rightfielder from Boston, Mass., powered the Warriors to a 4-0 week with three home runs and nine RBIs. He homered in each of the last three games including a 3-for-4 performance with three RBIs as Bacone delivered a 10-2 pounding of NAIA #6 Oklahoma City University. In an 8-4 victory over Iowa Wesleyan University to close out the week, Alvarez was 2-for-4 with four RBIs. He was 7-of-14 hitting for the week and stole three bases as Bacone rose to 20-3 on the season.

Smith, a senior third baseman from Sanger, Texas, scored eight runs and drove in nine others as the Rams won three of four. He was 9-of-15 at the plate with three doubles and three walks. Smith’s best game of the week was a 3-for-3 showing with five RBIs in a 16-9 win over Southwestern University (Texas). He also went 3-for-5 with a double in a 12-11 win that went 12 innings against Louisiana State University-Shreveport. TWU has an 11-7 mark on the season. 

Gutierrez, a junior pitcher from Fort Worth, Texas, threw a two-hitter to earn the victory in a 6-0 win over Houston Baptist University (Texas). In five innings of work, he struck out two hitters and walked four as Northwood moved to 8-10 on the season with four wins last week.

Wallis, a senior lefty from Enid, Okla., went 7 1/3 innings to earn the win in Bacone’s win over OCU. He struck out five hitters and allowed just one earned run while scattering five hits and two walks. Wallis is 4-1 on the season.

Jorge Camorlinga of University of Texas-Brownsville and Northwood’s Cody Via were additional player of the week nominees. UTB’s Julian Moya and TWU’s Kody Thiebaud were nominated for this week’s pitcher award.

-RRAC-