Dillard, Stillman capture final 2026 HBCUAC Softball Weekly 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. Mary-Elizabeth Landry repeats as Pitcher of the Week. Stillman College outfielder Makynli Kidd garners Freshman of the Week. They were honored for their performance between April 13-19 for the final weekly awards, the conference announced on Monday.

Battiste went 7-for-10 with six RBI and five runs, helping the Lady Bleu Devils clinch the regular season HBCUAC title with a dominating sweep over Huston-Tillotson University. She posted a 1.300 slugging percentage as four of her hits went for extra bases. Battiste ranks in the top five of the conference in batting average, home runs and RBI.

Landry remained nearly flawless on the mound. She only allowed five hits and five walks in two starts while striking out seven. Landry increased her scoreless inning streak to 22 innings. She finishes the regular season as the conference leader in ERA and wins.

Kidd made her first start since February 21. She went 5-for-7 in Saturday's doubleheader with four runs and four RBI. She had a career-high three hits and four RBI in the second game. Her performance helped the Tigers clinch a share of the HBCUAC regular season title for the second consecutive season.

Additional softball weekly nominees: Dextiny Combs (Voorhees), Karli Crocker (Stillman), Jordan Howard, Oakwood, Avary Lumpkin (Stillman), Emma Newby (Oakwood), Ja'Lise Stewart (Dillard)

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.