NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama right-handed pitcher Miles Smith was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year, as announced by the league office on Thursday.

Smith was also a preseason all-SBC selection in addition to being voted the league's top pitcher entering the 2022 season. Earlier this year, Smith was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball.

Last season, he was named second-team all-region by the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings, and led the Sun Belt in ERA (2.18), ranked tied for second in fewest runs allowed (25), third in earned runs allowed (20), fifth in opposing batting average (.220), tied for seventh in walks allowed (21), ninth in innings pitched (82.2) and 11th in strikeouts (79).

In 19 appearances with seven starts last year, Smith went 7-1 with two saves and a 2.18 ERA while combining for three shutouts, and struck out 79 batters against 21 walks in 82 2/3 innings pitched.

He was named to the NCAA Gainesville Regional all-tournament team, and was voted the most outstanding player of the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Championship. In three postseason starts, with one each at the SBC Championship and NCAA Regional along with a relief appearance in the SBC Championship final, Smith went 3-0 with a 2.75 ERA and recorded 18 strikeouts and issued four walks in 19 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed just two earned runs over his final 13 2/3 innings pitched, including one earned run on five hits in six innings in a 19-1 win over No. 14 Florida in the NCAA Gainesville Regional.

South Alabama will open the 2022 season Fri., Feb. 18, when it hosts Radford at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

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

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com. 
2022 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Preseason Awards

Preseason Player of the Year
Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina (Jr., SS – Bossier City, La.) 
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Miles Smith, South Alabama (Sr., SP – Laurel, Miss.) 
 

Preseason All-Sun Belt
Miles Smith, South Alabama (Sr., SP – Laurel, Miss.) 
Hayden Arnold, Little Rock (Sr., SP – Rison, Ark.) 
Tyler Tuthill, App State (Jr., SP – Clayton, N.C.)
Brandon Talley, Louisiana (Sr., RP – Princeton, Texas)
Caleb Bartolero, Troy (Jr., C – Woodstock, Ga.)
Jason Swan, Georgia Southern (Sr., 1B – Jacksonville, Fla.)
Luke Drumheller, App State (Jr., 2B – Charlotte, N.C.) 
Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina (Jr., SS – Bossier City, La.) 
Ben Klutts, Arkansas State (Sr., 3B – Poteau, Okla.) 
Christian Avant, Georgia Southern (Sr., OF – Tifton, Ga.)
Josh Smith, Georgia State (Jr., OF – College Park, Ga.) 
Rigsby Mosley, Troy (Sr., OF – Maitland, Fla.) 
Cameron Jones, Georgia State (So., UT – Kathleen, Ga.) 
Noah Ledford, Georgia Southern (Jr., DH – Buford, Ga.)