2024 WAC Baseball Release - NCAA Regionals

TARLETON STATE WINS FIRST DI CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Tarleton State secured the first conference title for its athletic department since making the move to NCAA Division I with a triumph at the 2024 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament last week in Mesa, Arizona. The Texans outlasted seven other teams to capture the WAC baseball crown during the final season of Tarleton State’s transition to full DI status. Tarleton State was also the fourth team from the state of Texas to win the WAC baseball tournament title, joining Rice (1997-99), UTSA (2013) and Sam Houston (2023).

FIVE WINS IN SIX GAMES FOR TARLETON TO LIFT THE TROPHY
As the number five seed in the 2024 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament, Tarleton State needed to survive the single-elimination play-in round to kick off the tournament on May 21. The Texans ran off four straight victories to reach the championship round before dominating No. 4 seed California Baptist 9-1 in the final game of the tournament. The five wins for Tarleton State were the second-most by a champion in tournament history. Sacramento State needed six victories to capture the 2019 WAC baseball title in Mesa.

ACU’S LANMAN DOUBLES AS PITCHER, FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Abilene Christian left-handed pitcher Brett Lanman captured both WAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors on May 20, closing a debut season that saw Lanman post a 7-2 record and 3.48 ERA over 16 appearances (15 starts). Lanman was just the second pitcher in the WAC since 2000 to capture both the pitcher and freshman of the year awards in the same season.

CBU’S PAINO CAPS A SENSATIONAL SEASON IN THE FIELD
California Baptist shortstop Josh Paino became the third overall baseball winner of the WAC Defensive Player of the Year award on May 20 following an impressive season in the field for the Lancers. Paino logged a .974 fielding percentage in 266 chances at shortstop for CBU in 2024, ranking second in the conference with 178 assists and contributing to 31 double plays.

GCU HEADED TO NCAA TUCSON REGIONAL
Grand Canyon qualified for the NCAA Tucson Regional as the fourth seed and will face top seed Arizona on May 31 at 6 p.m. MST. Since 1963 WAC programs have won a combined 195 games in the NCAA Baseball Championship.