ARLINGTON, Texas – Utah Valley’s Nate Bach and California Baptist’s Brandon Downer have been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, for the game week ending on Sunday, April 7.

Bach, a junior outfielder, helped guide the Wolverines to a 3-1 record in his starts last week, which included a three-game sweep of conference foe Utah Tech. Bach batted .500 with two home runs, four RBI, a stolen base, a 1.000 slugging percentage, a .611 on-base percentage and seven runs scored for Utah Valley. Bach went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a setback against Utah on April 2 before scoring a total of six runs over 13 total plate appearances at home versus Utah Tech April 4-7.

Downer, a junior right-handed pitcher, was masterful as the starter for CBU in a 1-0 victory at Sacramento State on April 5, a triumph that led to a series win on the road for the Lancers. Downer spun 8.1 innings of three-hit baseball, allowing only one runner past second base while issuing two walks and striking out seven batters on 102 pitches. Downer induced 11 ground ball outs during the gem, with a CBU solo home run in the top of the seventh inning providing the game’s only scoring.

2024 TicketSmarter WAC Baseball Weekly Awards

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nate Bach, Jr., OF, Utah Valley (April 8)
Armani Raygoza, R-Fr., INF, UTRGV (April 1)
Nicholas Dumesnil, So., OF, California Baptist (March 25)
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
Brandon Downer, Jr., RHP, California Baptist (April 8)
Connor Mattison, Fr., RHP, Grand Canyon (April 1)
Brett Lanman, Fr., LHP, Abilene Christian (March 25)
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)