2024 WAC Baseball Release - Week 3

TARLETON STATE STANDS ALONE AT THE TOP OF THE STANDINGS
Riding a six-game winning streak, Tarleton State laid claim to the top spot in the WAC standings with a 7-2 (.778) record entering games on March 1. UTRGV was next behind the Texans at 5-2 (.714), followed by Abilene Christian in third at 7-3 (.700).

SOLID OUTING FOR UTA’S NORRIS KEY TO WAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR
UT Arlington senior right-hander Zach Norris claimed WAC Pitcher of the Week accolades on Feb. 26 following a fantastic start for the Mavs last week against Boston College. Norris threw seven innings of four-hit ball and struck out 13 batters on 94 pitches to claim the victory in an 11-6 UTA win on Feb. 23.

ACTIVE WIN STREAKS ACROSS THE WAC
During its current six-game winning streak, Tarleton State has batted .364 as a team and outscored its opposition 68-42 in those wins. The Texans have driven in 57 of the 68 runs scored. California Baptist has caught fire as of late with three wins to close out its series with UC Riverside, while Abilene Christian won its second game in a row (fifth in its last six starts overall) in a 6-4 decision on the road at Baylor on Feb. 28.

REIGNING PLAYER OF THE WEEK HOWELL A FORCE FOR TARLETON STATE
As part of being named the WAC Player of the Week on Feb. 26 for his outstanding play against UTSA and Northern Colorado last week, Tarleton State infielder Brandon Howell has emerged as an offensive force through two weeks for the first place Texans. Howell led all WAC hitters with four home runs, a 1.200 slugging percentage and .633 on-base percentage thus far this season as of Feb. 29, registering the second-highest RBI count (13) and third-highest batting average (.450) and runs (11) total in the conference.

TAKE YOUR BASE X8
Sacramento State’s Matt Masciangelo found himself on the basepaths frequently for the Hornets over his first three starts in 2024 despite being 0-for-3 in official at-bats. Masciangelo still posted a .692 on-base percentage after being hit by pitch eight different times during his first 13 plate appearances of the season. He was hit three times in game one and four times in game two of a doubleheader against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 16, and reached by way of an HBP one additional time in the series finale on Feb. 18. Masciangelo remained the NCAA DI leader in HBP (9) for the season as of Feb. 27.