LSUS' Sanchez repeats at RRAC Baseball Player of the Week, TAMUV's Jacob Baker named Pitcher of the Week

RRAC Baseball Player of the Week – Carlos Sanchez – (1) LSU Shreveport

Junior Carlos Sanchez turned in a dominant performance at the plate to lead LSUS in its conference-opening sweep of Xavier (La.). Over three games, Sanchez hit an incredible .727 (8-for-11) with four runs scored and eight RBIs, tallying three doubles, one triple, and 13 total bases for a 1.182 slugging percentage. He reached base 10 times in 14 plate appearances (.714 OBP) and struck out just once all weekend. Sanchez opened the series by going 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in an 18-0 win. He followed with a perfect 4-for-4 performance in Saturday's first game, driving in five runs with two doubles, then added two more hits and another RBI in the series finale. He also swiped three bases during the series and was flawless defensively, finishing with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Sanchez is first in the NAIA with five triples. He leads the RRAC with 27 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He leads his team with 26 hits, six doubles, five triples, 48 total bases, RBIs, and stolen bases. Sanchez has won Player of the Week three times of the five awards this season.

LSUS is ranked first in the NAIA 2026 Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, and this season so far, the Pilots are second in the RRAC with a conference record of 3-0 and an overall record of 14-2.

RRAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week – Jacob Baker – (20) Texas A&M-Victoria

Junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Baker gave up just one earned run over eight innings to pick up a 7-1 win over OLLU to clinch a series win. After allowing a run in the first, he held the Saints scoreless over the next seven frames.

Baker has an ERA of 1.91 and has a record of 2-1. He has pitched in 28.1 innings, allowing 16 hits, 12 runs (6 earned), and 10 walks, while striking out 21.

TAMUV is ranked No. 20 in the NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Jaguars are fourth in the RRAC with an 11-7 overall record and a 2-1 conference record.

RRAC Notebook:

• LCU R-junior Braden Trull had at least one hit, scored at least one run, and knocked in at least one run in all three games of the series sweep of Jarvis Christian (Texas). He had a .500 average on the weekend with five RBIs, six runs, and a .714 slugging percentage.
• LSUA outfielder Dalton Wilson went 3-for-11, adding runs (one home run), and a stolen base in his team's sweep over Texas A&M-Texarkana (6-5, 4-3, 13-10).
• TAMUT junior outfielder Michael Caputo had a .500 batting average in the Eagles' series vs. LSUA. On the weekend, he accumulated four runs, six hits, and four RBIs. He also had five putouts in three games.
• TAMUV Connor Kaiser put together three multi-hit games last week to help the Jaguars go 2-2, including a series win over OLLU. He has now hit safely in each of his last six games.
• LCU Brandon Carter struck out 10 batters and didn't allow a run over six innings of work to pick up the win over JCU in game two of the doubleheader Friday night.
• LSUA Michael Sutton pitched 5.2 innings in his team's 6-5 victory over TAMUT. He allowed five hits, three runs (2 earned), and three blocks, while striking out four.
• TAMUT R-sophomore right-handed pitcher Matthew Hart pitched one inning in his team's 13-10 loss to LSUA. He walked two and struck out three.
• LSUS senior right-handed pitcher David Hankins turned in a commanding performance in the Pilots' 18-0 run-rule victory over XULA on Feb. 20 to open RRAC play. In the seven-inning contest, Hankins threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out eight and walking only one. The right-hander was sharp from the outset, limiting traffic and keeping Xavier off the scoreboard while not allowing a home run. He finished the week 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP across 7.0 innings, averaging 10.29 strikeouts per nine innings.

2026 RRAC Baseball Weekly Selections:

This week in the RRAC: