It’s been a year of ups and downs for Ole Miss pitcher Chad Smith, and Wednesday was certainly a high point as he struck out 11 Arkansas-Pine Bluff hitters, a new career high in that department, and picked up his fourth win of the year in a 12-1 rout of the Golden Lions.
“I was just able to command both my fastball and my slider,” Smith said. “I didn’t throw any change ups tonight, but I was able to work off of my fastball and slider and command them on both sides of the plate. It was a big confidence booster just seeing it translate with all the hard work I’ve put in in practice”
Smith’s command of his fastball has escaped him at times this year, but he was in full command of it on Wednesday.