FROM STAFF REPORTS
Pitcher Carson Smith, who recently completed his junior season with Texas State, became the third Texas State baseball player in the program’s history to earn all-America honors earlier this season when Collegiate Baseball released its national NCAA Division I selections. Last Thursday, Smith collected his second national accolade when College Baseball Insider named him an All-American Honorable Mention.
A Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American Third Team selection this season, Smith adds another All-American distinction to an already impressive résumé that includes being named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season and a National Player of the Week award during the 13th week of the regular season. A three-time Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week during the season, Smith was also named a preseason All-America third team selection by College Baseball Lineup.
This season, Smith was the ace of the Texas State pitching staff, finishing with a 9-3 record, 1.99 ERA and 129 strikeouts in a team-high 113 1/3 innings on the mound. Smith held opponents to a .216 batting average collectively and allowed just two home runs during the season. The 6-foot-5-inch right-hander’s ERA and strikeouts this season were both single-season bests for the Texas State baseball program.
During his two-year career, Smith has already climbed into the top-10 in career ERA (second, 2.52), shutouts (tied for third, 3) strikeouts (fourth, 223), wins (tied for seventh, 19) and innings pitched (seventh, 218).
Smith was drafted in the eighth round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Joining Smith with all-American status this season was first baseman Casey Kalenkosky who was named an American Baseball Coaches Association All-America Third Team selection.
