Photo by: Kaylee Kahn
Cardenas, Payne Recognized Among Conference’s Best With All-WAC Accolades
5/19/2026 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
ARLINGTON, Texas - Abilene Christian baseball's Diego Cardenas and Zandt Payne were recognized among the top players in the Western Athletic Conference with three All-WAC honors, the conference released Tuesday. Cardenas received All-WAC First Team accolades, while Payne was named to the Second Team and All-Defensive Team.
It's the fourth consecutive season that the Wildcats have garnered at least three All-WAC awards. Payne was recognized for the second year in a row after being named to the 2025 All-WAC First Team. An ACU ballplayer has landed on the WAC All-Defensive Team in each of its five seasons in the conference.
The Wildcats return to action at the University Credit Union WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. Fifth-seeded ACU gets started in the first round versus No. 4 Sacramento State at 5 p.m. (CT) Wednesday.
Cardenas, a senior, started each of the Wildcats' 54 games at designated hitter. He has established himself as one of the top hitters in the WAC while chasing numerous ACU records. Cardenas leads the conference with 24 home runs and 66 RBIs and is tied for eighth and 25th in the nation, respectively. He is pursuing Grayson Tatrow's program records of 25 home runs and 68 RBIs, established in 2023.
The El Paso, Texas product's .735 slugging percentage and 41 extra-base hits are the best marks in the WAC, while his 1.167 OPS is good for second. Cardenas touts a .321 batting average with 69 hits and a .432 on-base percentage. He is in the conference's top 10 for doubles (17) and runs scored (51) while tying for sixth with 28 walks.
Cardenas' nine home runs and 22 runs scored in WAC play are each tied for the conference lead.
Cardenas paces the team with 15 multi-RBI games to go with 19 multi-hit efforts and 12 multi-run performances. He has hit multiple home runs on seven occasions. Cardenas drove in nine runs versus Stephen F. Austin on March 4, tied for the third-most RBIs in a game this season. He scored five runs against Utah Valley on May 10.
In two seasons at ACU, Cardenas has amassed 43 home runs with 133 RBIs while starting each of the 108 games he has appeared in. He is slashing .324/.443/.712 with 134 hits and 105 runs scored. Cardenas has 31 doubles and 75 walks.
Payne joined Cardenas as the second Wildcat to start all 54 games, doing so at shortstop. The graduate student is second in the WAC with 64 runs scored and is tied for third with 43 walks drawn. Payne's .459 on-base percentage leads ACU and is 10th in the conference to go with a .311 batting average and a .507 slugging percentage.
The Edmond, Okla. native displayed excellent consistency in reaching base safely in all but two games, including a streak of 35 consecutive matchups. He has been recognized among the nation's top shortstops as a semifinalist for the 2026 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award.
Payne tied for eighth in the WAC with 10 long balls for 38 runs batted in. Payne tallied 65 hits, including nine doubles, and was a perfect 9 for 9 on stolen bases. He has been hit by 14 pitches, good for third in the conference.
In addition to his contributions at the plate, Payne displayed sterling defense in the middle infield as ACU's everyday shortstop. He played a role in 20 double plays with 131 assists.
Payne tied for the WAC lead with 22 runs scored in conference play, while his 20 walks topped the leaderboard. His .483 on-base percentage ranked seventh. Payne paces the Wildcats with 21 multi-hit games and 20 multi-run performances. He has nine multi-RBI efforts.
A three-year Wildcat letterman, Payne has totaled 15 homers and 103 RBIs in 156 games, including 151 starts. He is slashing .308/.432/.455 with 173 hits and 139 runs scored. Payne has 33 walks, two triples, 84 walks and 29 stolen bases.
2026 WAC Baseball Awards
WAC Player & Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Ramirez, So., SS, California Baptist
WAC Pitcher of the Year
Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist
WAC Freshman of the Year
Cole Hansen, DH/UTL, California Baptist
WAC Coach of the Year
Fuller Smith, Tarleton State
All-WAC First Team
SP – Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist
SP – Ethan Lay, Sr., RHP, Sacramento State
RP – Zachary Yates, Gr., California Baptist
C – Ty Johnsen, R-Sr., Utah Tech
1B – Hunter Katschke, Sr., Utah Valley
2B – Kyle McDaniel, Jr., Utah Tech
3B – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
OF – Erick Dessens, Jr., Sacramento State
OF – Rayner Heinrich, So., Tarleton State
OF – Kaden Carpenter, Sr., Utah Valley
DH/UTL – Diego Cardenas, Sr., Abilene Christian
All-WAC Second Team
SP – Matthew McCullough, Fr., RHP, Tarleton State
SP – Caylon Dygert, Jr., RHP, UT Arlington
RP – Anthony Treto, Jr., RHP, Tarleton State
C – Sergio Guerra, Sr., Tarleton State
1B – Miller Durham, Jr., Utah Tech
2B – Xavier Melendez, Sr., UT Arlington
3B – Connor Ross, Jr., California Baptist
SS – Zandt Payne, Gr., Abilene Christian
SS – Petey Soto Jr., Jr., Utah Tech
OF – Bryce McFeely, Gr., California Baptist
OF – Sam Harry, Fr., Sacramento State
OF – Jake Tatom, Sr., Tarleton State
DH/UTL – Cole Hansen, Fr., California Baptist
WAC All-Defensive Team
SS – Zandt Payne, Gr., Abilene Christian
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
C – Matt Chavez, Sr., California Baptist
SS – Ike Shirey, Sr., Tarleton State
SS – Petey Soto Jr., Jr., Utah Tech
It's the fourth consecutive season that the Wildcats have garnered at least three All-WAC awards. Payne was recognized for the second year in a row after being named to the 2025 All-WAC First Team. An ACU ballplayer has landed on the WAC All-Defensive Team in each of its five seasons in the conference.
The Wildcats return to action at the University Credit Union WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. Fifth-seeded ACU gets started in the first round versus No. 4 Sacramento State at 5 p.m. (CT) Wednesday.
Cardenas, a senior, started each of the Wildcats' 54 games at designated hitter. He has established himself as one of the top hitters in the WAC while chasing numerous ACU records. Cardenas leads the conference with 24 home runs and 66 RBIs and is tied for eighth and 25th in the nation, respectively. He is pursuing Grayson Tatrow's program records of 25 home runs and 68 RBIs, established in 2023.
The El Paso, Texas product's .735 slugging percentage and 41 extra-base hits are the best marks in the WAC, while his 1.167 OPS is good for second. Cardenas touts a .321 batting average with 69 hits and a .432 on-base percentage. He is in the conference's top 10 for doubles (17) and runs scored (51) while tying for sixth with 28 walks.
Cardenas' nine home runs and 22 runs scored in WAC play are each tied for the conference lead.
Cardenas paces the team with 15 multi-RBI games to go with 19 multi-hit efforts and 12 multi-run performances. He has hit multiple home runs on seven occasions. Cardenas drove in nine runs versus Stephen F. Austin on March 4, tied for the third-most RBIs in a game this season. He scored five runs against Utah Valley on May 10.
In two seasons at ACU, Cardenas has amassed 43 home runs with 133 RBIs while starting each of the 108 games he has appeared in. He is slashing .324/.443/.712 with 134 hits and 105 runs scored. Cardenas has 31 doubles and 75 walks.
Payne joined Cardenas as the second Wildcat to start all 54 games, doing so at shortstop. The graduate student is second in the WAC with 64 runs scored and is tied for third with 43 walks drawn. Payne's .459 on-base percentage leads ACU and is 10th in the conference to go with a .311 batting average and a .507 slugging percentage.
The Edmond, Okla. native displayed excellent consistency in reaching base safely in all but two games, including a streak of 35 consecutive matchups. He has been recognized among the nation's top shortstops as a semifinalist for the 2026 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award.
Payne tied for eighth in the WAC with 10 long balls for 38 runs batted in. Payne tallied 65 hits, including nine doubles, and was a perfect 9 for 9 on stolen bases. He has been hit by 14 pitches, good for third in the conference.
In addition to his contributions at the plate, Payne displayed sterling defense in the middle infield as ACU's everyday shortstop. He played a role in 20 double plays with 131 assists.
Payne tied for the WAC lead with 22 runs scored in conference play, while his 20 walks topped the leaderboard. His .483 on-base percentage ranked seventh. Payne paces the Wildcats with 21 multi-hit games and 20 multi-run performances. He has nine multi-RBI efforts.
A three-year Wildcat letterman, Payne has totaled 15 homers and 103 RBIs in 156 games, including 151 starts. He is slashing .308/.432/.455 with 173 hits and 139 runs scored. Payne has 33 walks, two triples, 84 walks and 29 stolen bases.
2026 WAC Baseball Awards
WAC Player & Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Ramirez, So., SS, California Baptist
WAC Pitcher of the Year
Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist
WAC Freshman of the Year
Cole Hansen, DH/UTL, California Baptist
WAC Coach of the Year
Fuller Smith, Tarleton State
All-WAC First Team
SP – Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist
SP – Ethan Lay, Sr., RHP, Sacramento State
RP – Zachary Yates, Gr., California Baptist
C – Ty Johnsen, R-Sr., Utah Tech
1B – Hunter Katschke, Sr., Utah Valley
2B – Kyle McDaniel, Jr., Utah Tech
3B – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
OF – Erick Dessens, Jr., Sacramento State
OF – Rayner Heinrich, So., Tarleton State
OF – Kaden Carpenter, Sr., Utah Valley
DH/UTL – Diego Cardenas, Sr., Abilene Christian
All-WAC Second Team
SP – Matthew McCullough, Fr., RHP, Tarleton State
SP – Caylon Dygert, Jr., RHP, UT Arlington
RP – Anthony Treto, Jr., RHP, Tarleton State
C – Sergio Guerra, Sr., Tarleton State
1B – Miller Durham, Jr., Utah Tech
2B – Xavier Melendez, Sr., UT Arlington
3B – Connor Ross, Jr., California Baptist
SS – Zandt Payne, Gr., Abilene Christian
SS – Petey Soto Jr., Jr., Utah Tech
OF – Bryce McFeely, Gr., California Baptist
OF – Sam Harry, Fr., Sacramento State
OF – Jake Tatom, Sr., Tarleton State
DH/UTL – Cole Hansen, Fr., California Baptist
WAC All-Defensive Team
SS – Zandt Payne, Gr., Abilene Christian
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
C – Matt Chavez, Sr., California Baptist
SS – Ike Shirey, Sr., Tarleton State
SS – Petey Soto Jr., Jr., Utah Tech
Players Mentioned
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