MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball freshman infielder Hannah Smith recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss her path to South, what teammates she looks up to and what it means to her to be a Jaguar, among other topics.

Smith lettered five seasons at Catholic-New Iberia High School in New Iberia, La., and became a starter with the varsity team in eighth grade.  She helped the Panthers advance to the second round of the state play offs three-straight seasons and was a two-time Class 2A all-state honorable mention selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association each of her last prep seasons, while also earning all-state accolades from the Louisiana Softball Coaches Association as a senior, junior and sophomore.  Smith hit .500 and set the school record for hits in a game, going 6-for-6 in the district championship, recording a home run for her sixth and final hit in the game as a junior.  She also played travel ball with the Louisiana Bombers Gold Team based in Lafayette, La., for six years and was a teammate of fellow Jag signee Jayden Dukes.

How would you describe yourself and your personality?
"I think I'm pretty shy at first, but once I get to know you, I'm pretty funny and outgoing."

How is your personality different out on the field?
"I'm a lot different on the field; I'm louder and more focused.  I joke around a lot, but when I'm playing I'm focused."

Talk about your path to South Alabama?
"My freshman year in high school, I didn't even want to play college softball.  I really didn't think I was good enough to play at that level.  I just played travel ball because I like playing softball.  I really didn't know anything about softball, but we were playing at a tournament in Orlando and coach Becky [Clark] was watching our team and she went up to my coaches and started talking about me and a couple of my teammates.  That's when I first became interested in playing college softball, and from that point on I was all about South Alabama."

Why did you choose to come to South Alabama?
"The second I got here on my first visit, I just knew that I wanted to come here.  The campus was really pretty, and the coaches and everyone else was really nice."

What kind of an impact do you hope to make on the team this season?
"Honestly, I just want to help the team anyway that I can whether that's playing or not; I just want to help the team."

What do you feel is a strength that you bring to the team and why?
"I'm a pretty positive person."

What is one area of your game that you are looking at improving heading into the season and why?
"My hitting.  I want to work on my mental game when I'm hitting."

How has the adjustment to college life gone for you?
"At first it was really hard, because I came from a small school where I knew everyone in my town.  There are probably more people in one of my classes than I graduated with.  It was hard to adjust at first, but I got used to it."

Is there a teammate of yours who you look up to?   If so, who and why?
"KK [Katelyn] Gruich and [Kristian] Foster have both really helped me out a lot.  When I first got here, KK helped me and my roommate move in and showed us around and where our classes were.  She invited us to hang out and do stuff.  Kristian has helped me out a lot out on the field.  She's showed me what to do and helped me out with certain other things."

What type of player can fans expect to see out of the field?
"I work hard, I want to win and I'm competitive."

What are you majoring in at South Alabama and what do you plan to do after graduation?
"I'm currently majoring in health sciences, but I'm about to switch to exercise science.  I want to become a PT [Physical Therapist] and go to PT school."

What does it mean to you to be a Jaguar?
"We work hard for everything, and nothing is given to us; that's a pretty cool thing to me.  Even at the beginning of the season, you have to pass your conditioning test to get a shirt or anything else.  When you work hard and you win, it just feels good."

What's your favorite meal?
"Gumbo."

What's your favorite form of social media?
"Twitter."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"Hang out with friends."

Who has been the most influential person in your life?
"My mom.  She's been through a lot and she's always positive and pushing me to do better."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear.  All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.

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