SUNO, Talladega claim Week 2 HBCUAC Baseball Awards

Southern University at New Orleans and Talladega picked up a win last week.

February 10, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Southern University at New Orleans third baseman Jhemmal Geraldo wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Player and Newcomer of the Week. Pitcher Jason Matthews earned Freshman of the Week. Talladega pitcher Diego Duque garners Pitcher of the Week. The athletes were recognized for their performance between February 2-8, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Geraldo went 5-for-7 with a double, triple, two runs and an RBI in two games. He had a 1.143 slugging percentage. Geraldo's performance helped the Knights earn a split with a victory over Lane College on Sunday.

Matthews earned the win against Lane, throwing five innings and struck out seven. Only one of the two runs he allowed were earned and he gave up just three hits.

Duque threw a one-hit shutout against Tennessee Southern University on Saturday. He struck out 10.

Additional baseball weekly nominees: Andres Anez (Wilberforce), Caleb Carter (Tougaloo), Joshua Catala (Talladega), Trey Clark (Wiley), Reyli Escobedo (Wiley), Robert Gage (Stillman), Gage Lewis (Tougaloo), Amir Mason (Wiley), Christopher Nunez (SUNO), Esteban Olivares (Talladega), Luis Perdomo (Talladega), Jonathan Phillips (Stillman), Nick Rodriguez (Wiley), John Roland (Stillman), Graelan Shaffer (Tougaloo), Lekedric Sutton (Tougaloo)

2026 HBCUAC Baseball Players of the Week

Date	Player	Pitcher	Freshman	Newcomer
Jan. 22-Feb. 1	Jose Villalobos, Wiley	Ethan Walker, Huston-Tillotson	Daniel de los Rios, Wiley	Evan Mendoza, Huston-Tillotson
Feb. 2-8	Jhemmal Geraldo, SUNO	Diego Duque, Talladega	Jason Matthews, SUNO	Jhemmal Geraldo, SUNO

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.