NEW ORLEANS – University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajun Les Smith has been named Sun Belt Conference Baseball Player of the Week, as decided on by the league’s member institutions.
Smith, a freshman outfielder, hit .533 (8-15) with a double, a triple, three homers and 10 RBI last week, leading Louisiana to a perfect 4-0 record with a win over McNeese State and a series sweep of league foe UALR.
Smith played a key role in the Cajuns' sweep of UALR this weekend, hitting .615 against the Trojans, going 8-for-13 with five extra base hits. Smith batted .636 with runners on base and .600 with runners in scoring position, .600 with two outs, and hit .714 in advancing runners.
Perhaps most importantly, Smith registered five two-out RBIs. On Saturday, Smith fell just a single short of hitting for the cycle, posting a two-run home run, a triple and a double in the game to finish with a 2.250 SLG%.
Smith stole one base on the week (1-for-1) and was perfect in right field as well. Smith's hitting was very timely, as he jacked the go-ahead three-run home run on Sunday, and put UALR out of striking distance with two-run bombs on both Friday and Saturday.
More importantly, Smith spurred the Cajuns on to their most productive weekend yet, as the team scored 40 runs against UALR, including eight from Smith.
Geaux-Cajuns
Sun Belt Press