ARLINGTON, Texas – Abilene Christian’s Gino D’Alessio and Utah Tech’s Ryan Hardman have been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, for the game week ending on Sunday, March 17.

D’Alessio, a graduate student utility player, hit .600 over four games against UTSA and UT Arlington, clubbing three home runs while driving in five runs and scoring seven times. D’Alessio hit two home runs and scored four runs in game one against UTA on March 15 and went a perfect 5-for-5 with a home run, stolen base and two runs for the Wildcats in the series finale.

Hardman, a senior right-handed pitcher, earned two saves for Utah Tech as part of a series win against Sacramento State thanks to a pair of near perfect relief appearances. Hardman pitched a spotless ninth inning in game one on March 15, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a 9-7 Utah Tech win. Hardman entered in a jam in the eighth inning of game three and retired the final six hitters, three by strikeout, to nail down a 5-4 victory on March 17.

2024 TicketSmarter WAC Baseball Weekly Awards

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gino D’Alessio, Grad, UTL, Abilene Christian (March 18)
Tyler Wilson, Sr., UTL, Grand Canyon (March 11)
Michael Carpentier, Sr., C, California Baptist (March 4)
Brandon Howell, Jr., INF, Tarleton State (Feb. 26)
Beau Ankeney, Jr., INF, Grand Canyon (Feb. 19)

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Hardman, Sr., RHP, Utah Tech (March 18)
Brett Garcia, Grad, RHP, Abilene Christian (March 11)
Caylon Dygert, Fr., RHP, UT Arlington (March 4)
Zach Norris, Sr., RHP, UT Arlington (Feb. 26)
Iain Campa, Jr., RHP, Abilene Christian (Feb. 19)