PEMBROKE – Hard work both on and off the field paid dividends for the UNC Pembroke baseball program with Jacob Smith being named to the Academic All-District team by College Sports Communicators (CSC). 

Smith secured a spot on the distinguished squad for the first time, with the announcement marking the tenth time in the last 20 full seasons the program has had at least one student-athlete earn the honor.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his current institution. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games at the position listed on the nomination form. In baseball, pitchers must have at least 10 innings pitched.

Smith was a mainstay in the UNCP starting rotation and led the team with 12 starts, compiling a 5-3 record across 65.2 innings while finishing eighth in Conference Carolinas with 62 strikeouts. The King native has logged a 3.60 cumulative GPA and will graduate in August with a degree in Business Administration before pursuing his MBA from UNC Pembroke.