APSU’s Ridge Smith earns OVC Player of the Week honor

APSU Sports Information

Brentwood, TN – Austin Peay State University baseball freshman utility man Ridge Smith has quickly made a mark with his bat, earning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors, Monday, after the season’s first weekend.

Smith, of Memphis, TN batted .600 (6-for-10) in Austin Peay’s three-game series against Iowa. Four of his six hits were doubles and he finished with a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .643 on-base percentage. He leads the OVC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and RBI after the opening weekend.

He began his Austin Peay career with a 2-for-3, two RBI effort in Saturday’s first game, including a two-run double that was his first hit. Smith followed that with a 3-for-5, three RBI effort in the nightcap that included two doubles and reached twice courtesy an error.

He concluded the weekend with a 2-for-5, two RBI performance in the finale, including a sacrifice fly that provided the game-winning run.

Smith becomes the first Austin Peay freshman since 2011 to win the league’s Player of the Week award in his first week of action. Former Govs infielder Jordan Hankins won 2011’s first honor as a freshman.

Austin Peay concludes its season-opening four-game homestand when it hosts Southern Illinois in a 3:30pm Tuesday contest at Raymond C. Hand Park.