Stillman, Huston-Tillotson, Dillard claim Week 7 HBCUAC Softball Awards

March 16, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Stillman College first baseman Avary Lumpkin wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Softball Player of the Week. Huston-Tillotson pitcher Alexis Tamez garners Pitcher of the Week. Dillard University infielder Amayiah Franklin takes Freshman of the Week. Infielder Grace Hunter earns Newcomer of the Week. The ladies were recognized for their performance between March 9-15, the conference announced on Monday.

Lumpkin hit .714 and slugged 1.714 in a three-game sweep of Oakwood University. She hit two home runs with eight runs batted in and five runs scored.

Tamez claimed both of Huston-Tillotson's complete-game shutouts this weekend during the its three-game HBCUAC sweep of Rust (Miss.). She struck out 11 batters and allowed only six hits and no walks over 10 innings pitched. Tamez has now pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings and has not been scored upon in her last four day game appearances, a streak of 16 and 2/3 innings that includes three five-inning shutouts.

Franklin went 7-for-9 with three runs and six RBI in a sweep over Talladega College. Three of her hits went for extra bases with two doubles and a triple. She had an .800 on-base percentage and a 1.222 slugging percentage.

Hunter went 4-for-8 with three runs and three RBI. She had a .636 on-base percentage and a .625 slugging percentage.

Additional softball weekly nominees: Alayali Alaniz (Huston-Tillotson), Faith Byram (Stillman), Karli Crocker (Stillman), Jenevieve Fleming (Wiley), Alexis Gaona (Huston-Tillotson), T'era Garrett (Wiley), Ta'Nia Hickson (Voorhees), Mary-Elizabeth Landry (Dillard), Emma Newby (Oakwood), JaLeah Orr (Stillman), Alayna Parram (Wiley), Elaina Rogers (Voorhees), Ta'Keyvia Sims (Voorhees), Toni Sims (Oakwood), Serenity Smith (Wiley)

2026 HBCUAC Softball Players of the Week

Date	Player	Pitcher	Freshman	Newcomer
Jan. 26-Feb. 1	Alayali Alaniz, Huston-Tillotson	N/A	N/A	N/A
Feb. 2-8	Alex Erwin, Stillman	N/A	Eddrain Schenkel, Voorhees	Ta'Keviyia Sims, Voorhees
Feb. 9-15	Jordan Howard, Oakwood	Emma Newby, Oakwood	Emma Newby, Oakwood	Ta'Keviya Sims, Voorhees
Feb. 16-22	Anna Jones, Oakwood	Emma Newby, Oakwood	Emma Newby, Oakwood	Alexis Tamez, Huston-Tillotson
Feb. 23-March 1	Denae Hernandez, Huston-Tillotson	Alexis Tamez, Huston-Tillotson	Kieana Cruz, Huston-Tillotson	Alexis Tamez, Huston-Tillotson
March 2-8	Apryl Davis, Voorhees	Ta'Nia Hickson, Voorhees	Josie Harshberger, Talladega	Alexis Tamez, Huston-Tillotson
March 9-15	Avary Lumpkin, Stillman	Alexis Tamez, Huston-Tillotson	Amayiah Franklin, Dillard	Grace Hunter, Dillard

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.