Smith Signs To Stay In State With Rattlers
Florida SouthWestern sophomore Samantha Smith is moving on after graduating from FSW following her second straight National Championship this spring, but she isn’t going too far as Tuesday the Bucs two-way star signed at Florida A&M University where she will suit up for the Rattlers next season.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern sophomore Samantha Smith is moving on after graduating from FSW following her second straight National Championship this spring, but she isn't going too far as Tuesday the Bucs two-way star signed at Florida A&M University where she will suit up for the Rattlers next season.
Smith helped the Bucs to back to back NJCAA National Championships in her two seasons in Fort Myers, seeing action in 63 games both as a pitcher and a position player. In the circle she went a perfect 9-0 in 31 appearances, notching a 2.50 ERA in 72 2/3 innings pitched. She struck out 57 opposing hitters and allowed just 59 hits, holding opponents to a .227 average the past two seasons. She also helped boost the Bucs offense at the plate this season, cracking three doubles and popping a pair of home runs including the first home run in Buccaneers Park history to kick off the Spring season. Patient at the plate, Smith walked 11 times in 51 plate appearances, helping to give her a .429 on base percentage as a sophomore this season.
Also a standout in the classroom for the Bucs, Smith was named a 2023 CSC Academic All-District selection while earning NJCAA, FCSAA, and Southern Conference All-Academic Team honors this season as a sophomore.
In her two seasons with the Bucs Smith helped FSW go 110-11 overall, win Conference Championships in both the Suncoast and Southern Conferences, claim their third FCSAA State Championship in 2023, and win back to back NJCAA National Championships.
Smith will head to Tallahassee to join a FAMU squad that was 20-24 this season. The Rattlers put together a 13-11 mark in SWAC play, good for a 3rd place finish in the East Division.
Smith is the sixth FSW sophomores to sign at the Division I level off of this year's squad and the 10th overall to sign at the four year level, including Belle Sardja (South Florida), Laura Vigna (Mercer), Kylee Graham (Toledo), Shenita Tucker (Lamar), Carys Platt (Louisiana-Monroe), Camille Graham (Embry-Riddle), Jaden Goodwin & Gabby Martin (USC Beaufort), and Caroline Figueroa (Barry).