Huston-Tillotson, Dillard claim Week 8 HBCUAC Softball Honors

NEW ORLEANS - Huston-Tillotson University outfielder Alayali Alaniz wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Softball Player of the Week. Dillard University pitcher Mary-Elizabeth Landry earns Pitcher of the Week. Outfielder and pitcher Kylie Price garners Freshman of the Week. Infielder Grace Hunter repeats as Newcomer of the Week. They were honored for their performance between March 23-29, the conference announced on Monday.

Alaniz led the Rams with six hits and six RBIs as they won two out of three at Oakwood (Ala.) this weekend. She collected all six hits during Sunday's doubleheader, finishing the day with six hits in eight at-bats, with a double, a triple, and six RBI for the day. She helped HT to a 9-1 victory in the series finale with three runs and four RBI. For the week, Alaniz slugged .818.

Landry won both of her starts to help the Lady Bleu Devils to a sweep over Wiley University. She held the Lady Wildcats to two runs on six hits and struck out six in a 5-2 victory in the season opener. In the finale, she pitched a shutout, only surrendering two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Her performance helped Dillard maintain its lead in the HBCUAC standings.

Price went 6-for-10 with three runs and three RBI in the series against Wiley. She hit a home run in the series opener and a triple in the finale. She posted a 1.100 slugging percentage for the week. She earned the win in the circle for the second game, allowing three runs on six hits and struck out one.

Hunter went 5-for-9 with four runs and five RBI. Three of her five hits were doubles. She drove in three of the five runs in the series opener. Hunter stole a base in the finale and scored three runs.

Additional softball weekly nominees: Haylee Clausell (Talladega), Areya Foster (Voorhees), Alexis Gaona (Huston-Tillotson), T'era Garrett (Wiley), Jordan Howard (Oakwood), Avary Lumpkin (Stillman), Emma Newby (Oakwood), Addison Nuspl (Stillman), Michaela Otts (Stillman), Ta'Keviya Sims (Voorhees), Sa'Vya Sutherland (Dillard), Alexis Tamez (Huston-Tillotson)

2026 HBCUAC Softball Players of the Week

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.