Vargas, the designated hitter for the Pioneer baseball team, had a monster week in a non-conference doubleheader against Eastern New Mexico then a three-game, Sooner Athletic Conference series against Oklahoma City University.

A 6-foot-5, 235-pound junior from Boston, Mass., who was born in the Dominican Republic, Vargas had 14 hits in 22 at-bats, including six home runs with 13 RBIs and nine runs scored. He produced a 1.591 slugging percentage over the five-game stretch.

In the series finale against OCU, Vargas tied a school record with three home runs, boosting his season total to 24. That also tied a school record which Vargas figures to break with three scheduled regular-season games and the post-season remaining. In addition to his three home runs – two solo shots and a three-run blast – Vargas also had a two-RBI single as he finished the game 4-for-5 with seven RBI and three runs.

Vargas extended his NAIA home runs lead and also ranks first in nine other categories, including batting average (.503), RBIs (66) and slugging percentage (1.095). He led the NAIA in home runs last season with 20 in 30 games.,

Vargas is the defending Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year, an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Academic All-SAC and a 2021 NAIA Preseason All-American. He recently was named to the 2021 Golden Spikes Award Midseason watch list, the only non-D1 collegiate player selected.