CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In her rookie campaign, WKU Softball catcher Kendall Smith earned Conference USA All-Tournament Team recognition the league office announced at the conclusion of the championship event Saturday. Smith was the only backstop recognized on the 12-person team, marking back-to-back seasons a Hilltopper catcher has earned the honor.
Across two games in Charlotte, the Bowling Green, Ky., native went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, sacrifice hit and run scored. Of all individuals that played in multiple games at the Championship, Smith's .600 batting average was the second-best mark.
Smith caught all 13 innings the Red and White played at the C-USA Championship, including a career-best nine strikeouts – framing four for called punchouts - from Kelsey Aikey in WKU's 5-2 win over Marshall. Behind the plate, Smith was the only catcher to catch two runners attempting to steal while allowing zero stolen bases against in the tournament.
With three trips to the C-USA Championship in program history, WKU Softball has now seen six Hilltoppers earn All-Tournament honors as Smith added her name to the list. Last season, catcher Taylor Proctor and outfielder Kelsey McGuffin each earned recognition. In WKU's first year as a C-USA member, Miranda Kramer, Kathryn Downing and Carleigh Chaumont all earned recognition as well.
2018 Conference USA All-Tournament Team
P - Cori Jennings, Middle Tennessee
P - Mia Olson, Florida Atlantic
IF - Emily Lochten, Florida Atlantic
IF - Rachel Rogers, UAB
IF - Kristin Uselton, Middle Tennessee
IF - Summer Burgess, Middle Tennessee
OF - Kirstyn Cuccia, Middle Tennessee
OF - Precious Birdsong, Middle Tennessee
OF - Samantha Lageyre, Florida Atlantic
C - Kendall Smith, WKU
DP - Sloane Stewartson, Louisiana Tech
Utility - Tatum Buckley, Florida Atlantic
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
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