WACO, Texas – Kurt Knight of Texas College and Zach Smith of Texas Wesleyan University powered their way to a share of the Red River Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week award for March 10-16, while Cesar Arias of Bacone College (Okla.) was honored with the RRAC pitcher of the week award for the same dates.

Knight, a sophomore centerfielder from Pompano Beach, Fla., blasted four home runs for the Steers as they won four of five games last week. He opened the week by going 3-for-6 with a homer and four RBIs to help TC defeat LeTourneau University (Texas), 20-7. Knight capped the week with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with a pair of round-trippers as the Steers edged Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Texas), 16-11. For the week, he was 10-of-23 hitting (.435) with 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored. Texas College raised its record to 8-22.

Smith, a senior third baseman from Sanger, Texas, also led the Rams to a 4-1 week by going 13-of-18 at the plate (.722) and driving in 12 runs. He had four multiple-hit games including a 4-for-4 performance with a home run and four RBIs as TWU knocked off 15^th-ranked Wayland Baptist University (Texas), 19-5. Smith also went 5-for-6 in a double-header sweep of Marietta College (Ohio) to extend his current hitting streak to nine games. He scored 11 runs with two doubles and four walks on the week. This is the second consecutive week that Smith has been recognized with the RRAC honor. The Rams are now 15-8 on the season. 

Arias, a sophomore right-hander from Miami, Fla., opened a four-game set for the Warriors against Clarke College (Iowa) with a complete-game, three-hit shutout. He struck out nine hitters and walked one en route to the 4-0 victory. Bacone improved to 26-3 on the season.

SAGU’s Gabe Hensley, Ryan Macdonald of University of Texas at Brownsville, Justin Parks of Northwood University (Texas) and Bacone’s Joel Torres were additional player of the week nominees. TWU’s Steven DeFratus, SAGU’s Josiah Hensley, UTB’s Julian Moya and Northwood’s Will Schneider were nominated for this week’s pitcher award.

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