BALTIMORE, Md. -- Coppin State University senior student-athlete Danielle Smith currently leads the NCAA Division I with a .495 batting average.
The 5-foot-2 shortstop has played and started in all 34 games for the Lady Eagles. She currently has a nine game hitting streak and has a team best seven multi-hit performances this season. She is one of six seniors on her team and serves as team captain leading CSU in 14 different statistical categories.
As a freshman, Smith tied the Coppin State softball all-time single season hits record with 48 back. Three years later, Smith set a new single-season standard when she recorded her 49th hit last weekend against Hampton University finishing the series with a total of six hits.
"It feels great that all the hard work and the dedication is paying off," Smith said. "I never expected that I will be leading the nation but it feels good."
As Coppin State prepares for its final regular season series against Morgan State, Smith is the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) leader in slugging percentage (.767) and the Coppin State all-time leader in both career batting average (.374) and in hits (158). She is second in runs scored (107) and ranks fourth in both career home runs (11) and in RBIs (59).
"I've had a pretty decent career as a Lady Eagle", Smith continued. "In the last few seasons, I've improved from my freshman and sophomore years. My goal was just to improve year by year and to be a better player than the year before."
With her collegiate softball career coming to an end, Smith has her sights set on life after Coppin State.
"I'm an accounting major and I am searching for internship opportunities right now," Smith said. "I still need to get three more credits if I ever want to take the CPA, so I'm looking to go to grad school. Right now if I decided to go to grad school, and start in the fall I'll probably stay close to my family at home."