Charlotte redshirt junior starting pitcher Andrew Smith (Matthews, N.C. / Butler HS) was placed on his first all-America team today, as Collegiate Baseball News named him to their Third-Team list, following the conclusion of the 2011 regular season.

Smith, who will start Charlotte's first NCAA postseason game in three seasons Friday against Arkansas in Tempe, Ariz., was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year last week. He finished the regular season with a 9-4 record and a league-best 1.85 ERA in 15 starts for the 49ers. Smith tossed a team-high 102 innings, striking out 88 batters and walking 25.

Smith tossed his first career complete game shutout at Saint Louis on April 15, allowing three hits and four walks in that contest, and was the starting pitcher in three other combined shutouts in 2011. Charlotte tallied 11 shutouts this season, tying for third-most in the country this season.

In five starts away from home this year, Smith was an impressive 3-1, including a combined one-hit shutout in his previous start as he gave up just one single in seven innings in the 49ers opening game of the 2011 A-10 Tournament, against Richmond. Charlotte won that game 6-0 in the first one-hitter tossed since 2007.

Smith gave up one earned run or less in nine of his 15 starts, and gave up two earned runs in three others. He set a career high with 10 strikeouts in the Saint Louis game, and tied it at home to Richmond on May 6. He struck out five or more batters 11 times this season, reaching eight or more five times. His 88 strikeouts put him with the 73^rd most in the country this season, with his nine wins in a tie for 37^th in Division I.

Smith joined John Maine (2000, C-USA) and Adam Mills (2007, A-10) as the third Pitcher of the Year for a conference from Charlotte. Tim Collie (1995, Metro) is the only Charlotte pitcher ever named the Conference Player of the Year.

Smith joins Collie and Mills as the only pitchers named an All-American in Charlotte history. He is the ninth player named All-American by a national publication from Charlotte (joining Collie, Mills, Barry Shifflett, Joey Anderson, Bo Robinson, James Matan, Brad McElroy and Chris Taylor). He is the fourth All-American in the previous five seasons at Charlotte (Mills, McElroy in 2007 and Taylor in 2008.)

Smith and the Niners begin their fifth postseason experience at Arizona State Friday, with the first pitch against the Razorbacks scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern.