April 11, 2011

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Freshman George Smith Jr. has been named GoExplorers.com Student Athlete of the Week for his breakout perfance over the weekend against Temple. 

Last week, the freshman went 6-for-12 during with 6 RBI and two runs scored while starting three games in centerfield.

Smith Jr.'s RBI were not of the garden variety for a freshman, including a clutch RBI double in the seventh inning of game one of the DH against Temple on Sunday afternoon that turned a 2-1 La Salle lead into a 3-1 edge.

Smith Jr. followed it up with another clutch performance in game two of the DH. The freshman knocked home a two-run single in the seventh to pad La Salle's lead and the go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning, breaking a 5-5 tie and sparking La Salle to a four-run inning in a 9-5 win to cap off a three-game sweep of the rival Owls.

The freshman did not commit an error in CF during the week and made several lunging and diving defensive plays on a soggy Sunday at Skip Wilson Field to keep the Explorers in front throughout most of the series.

La Salle continues the 2011 regular season with a mid-week matchup against Penn on Wednesady at 3 p.m. at Hank DeVincent Field.  The Explorers (18-13, 5-4) will continue A-10 play this weekend when they travel to St. Bonaventure to take on the Bonnies.