Dillard sweeps Week 10 HBCUAC Softball Honors

NEW ORLEANS - Dillard University third baseman Jessica Battiste wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Softball Player and Newcomer of the Week. Kylie Price claims Pitcher of the Week. Ja'Lise Stewart takes home Freshman of the Week. They were honored for their performances between March 30-April 5, the conference announced on Monday.

Battiste claims two awards for the second consecutive week, giving her four total. She went 8-for-12 with 10 RBI, two runs, four doubles and a home run. Battiste slugged 1.250 for the week, helping the Lady Bleu Devils to a sweep over Oakwood University. 

Price picked up two wins in the circle. In Thursday's second game, she only allowed two runs on five hits and struck out three. In Friday's finale, she held the Lady Ambassadors to three runs on six hits and struck out four. This is Price's second weekly honor.

Stewart went 6-for-12 with four runs, three RBI, a double and a home run in three games. She went 4-for-4 with three runs in the second game and was a triple shy of the cycle. For the week, Stewart posted a .833 slugging percentage.

Additional softball weekly nominees: T'era Garrett (Wiley), Aidan Johnson (Talladega), Anna Jones (Oakwood), Avary Lumpkin (Stillman), Addison Nupsl (Stillman), Jazmine Rodriguez (Wiley), Eddrain Schenkel (Voorhees), Ta'Keviya Sims (Voorhees), Jasmine Wade (Stillman)

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.