WACO, Texas – Julian Alvarez of Bacone College (Okla.) was named Red River Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week for the second consecutive award, while Steven DeFratus of Texas Wesleyan University was also selected as a repeat winner, sharing the RRAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week honor with Jeremy Macklin of Huston-Tillotson University (Texas) for April 7-13.

Alvarez, a junior rightfielder from Boston, Mass., drove in 10 runs as Bacone swept a three-game set against College of the Southwest (N.M.). In the opener, he went 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of homer runs and seven RBIs. He followed with two more multi-hit games, including a double-homer performance in the final game. For the week, he was 8-for-10 at the plate with 10 runs scored, three doubles, four walks and five home runs. Bacone is now 9-3 in conference play (second in RRAC North) and 37-9 on the season.

DeFratus, a senior pitcher from Oxnard, Calif., claimed a 6-0 win against Northwood University (Texas) in his only appearance of the week. He scattered seven hits across seven innings with five strikeouts and no walks. It was DeFratus’ third consecutive complete game shutout. The Rams advanced to 30-11 mark overall, remaining atop the RRAC North Division with a record of 11-1.

Macklin, a junior pitcher/rightfielder from Austin, Texas, worked seven scoreless innings in his only outing of the week to ensure a 9-2 victory over Texas College. He allowed just six hits and one walk while striking out eight Steer hitters. HT swept the weekend series to move to 9-0 in the RRAC South Division and 26-15 on the season.

TWU’s Butch Ballez, HT’s Patrick Hines and Tyler O’Neal of the University of Texas at Brownsville were additional player of the week nominees. Bacone’s Dan Wheeler was nominated for this week’s pitcher award.

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