Long Beach State University Athletics
Dave Smith Named Big West Pitcher of the Week
5/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Following a terrific Sunday afternoon that saw Long Beach State clinch an outright Big West championship on Senior Day at Blair Field, RHP Dave Smith has been named Big West Pitcher of the Week. The senior from Elk Grove, Calif. picks up the first weekly award of his career and the fifth for the Dirtbags this season.
Smith finished off a sweep of Hawai'i on Sunday, going a career-best 8.0 innings on the mound, allowing just one run on six hits in LBSU's 2-1 victory. He struck out a pair without issuing a walk, making it the seventh time in 10 starts that Smith did not walk a batter. Smith improved his season record to 8-1 and, in the process, lowered his Big West-leading ERA to 1.70.
The win also clinched Long Beach State's first conference championship since 2008. The Dirtbags will also be the outright champions for the first time since 2003.
Long Beach State has now had two starting pitchers earn Pitcher of the Week honors this season, as Smith joins Darren McCaughan, who won back on Apr. 24. LBSU has claimed three Player of the Week awards as well, with one going to Brock Lundquist and two going to Lucas Tancas.
LBSU will finish out the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Cal State Fullerton, starting Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m.
