Baseball | 5/24/2011 9:39:57 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - Senior outfielder Justin Smith (Livonia, NY/Livonia), a member of the RIT baseball team, earned 2011 CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American first team honors on Tuesday.  Selections are made based on a combination of academic and athletic excellence.  Smith, a biomedical sciences major, has a tremendous 3.90 grade-point average.  Smith becomes RIT baseball's second Academic All-American, joining Ryan Tryt (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley), who earned that prestigious honor in 2007 and 2008. 

Smith enjoyed another excellent season for the Tigers in 2011, having played in and started all 35 games in centerfield, while serving as the lead-off hitter. He led the team with a .393 batting average, with team-best totals of 65 total bases, 53 hits, 29 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. In addition, Smith contributed five doubles, two triples, one home run, and 21 runs batted in.

Smith finishes his career as RIT's all-time leader with 63 career stolen bases. in 2009, Smith tied the single-season record by stealing 23 bases. Smith is in the top-five all-time at RIT with 160 hits, 115 runs scored, and 200 total bases.  He is a three-time All-Empire 8 selection, having earned second team honors in 2009 and first team honors in 2010 and 2011.

"Justin is the hardest working student-athlete I've ever coached," said Head Coach Rob Grow, who recently completed his 19th season at RIT.  "I couldn't be happier for Justin, he deserves every accolade he has received in his four years.  He embodies everything that is great about the RIT baseball program."

The Livonia, N.Y. native earned CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-Region first team honors in 2010 and 2011.  Last month, he was honored as a co-recipient of the Mark Ellingson Award at RIT, given to a student who combines strong academic and athletic success.  In addition, Smith was named one of RIT's Outstanding Undergraduate Scholars in 2011.