BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced its NCAA Division II weekly awards for the week ending April 19, 2026. Delta State senior Adrian Byrd was named NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week. In addition, West Florida’s Tanner Taylor was named NCBWA South Region Player of the Week.
 
Byrd turned in a commanding performance on the mound, tossing a seven-inning complete game shutout in an 11-0 victory over Auburn Montgomery. The senior left-hander struck out 11 batters while allowing just four hits and two walks, holding opponents to a .160 batting average. Byrd faced 27 batters in the outing and did not allow a run while securing his second consecutive complete game shutout.

Taylor had a productive week at the plate as he hit .625 (10-for-16) with six RBI and four runs scored across a four-game slate. He also slugged .750 behind two doubles and posted a .647 on-base percentage. The senior had consecutive multi-hit games, highlighted by a 3-for-4 effort against Spring Hill which included four RBI and later a 3-for-5 performance with a double and an RBI at Mississippi College. Against MC, Taylor was a combined 7-for-12 (.583) at the dish with two RBI and four runs scored. 

Byrd is the Gulf South Conference's first player to earn NCBWA national honors this season. 

This is the fourth time in 11 weeks the Gulf South Conference has swept NCBWA South Region weekly awards. Previously named GSC Player of the Week, Taylor is the league's sixth hitter to be named NCBWA South Region Player of the Week. Byrd, the GSC Pitcher of the Week, meanwhile is the conference's sixth arm during the 2026 campaign to earn in South Region weekly pitching honors. 

2026 NCBWA South Region Players of the Week
Week 1: Zach Stokes (West Florida) – Player / Jacob Pino (Florida Tech) – Pitcher
Week 2: Ryan Crivello (Saint Leo) – Player / Robert Satin (Tampa) – Pitcher
Week 3: Jhoander Irigoyen (Tampa) – Player / Zach Wyatt (Montevallo) – Pitcher 
Week 4: Marcello Cortale (Florida Tech) – Player / Jack Ensell (Barry) – Pitcher
Week 5: Kent Johnson (Benedict) – Player / Tyler Brashear (Eckerd) – Pitcher
Week 6: Alex Johnson (Mississippi College) – Player / Baker Green (West Alabama) – Pitcher 
Week 7: Cade Martin (Trevecca) – Player / Ryan Sweeney (Trevecca) – Pitcher 
Week 8: Cody Turner (Lee) – Player / Grady Bivens (Eckerd) – Pitcher
Week 9: Tucker Jones (Delta State) – Player / Cooper Cooksey (Mississippi College) – Player
Week 10: Ryan Campbell (Kentucky State) – Player / Zach Wyatt (Montevallo) – Pitcher 
Week 11: Jatnier Torres (Spring Hill) – Player / Nick Manning (Nova Southeastern) – Pitcher  
Week 12: Tanner Taylor (West Florida) – Player / Adrian Byrd (Delta State) – Pitcher*

* earned NCBWA National honors