SALEM, Va. - For the fifth time in program history, a pitcher from the University of North Georgia has earned the Ron Lenz National Pitcher of the Year honor as Kylee Smith was given the award as announced by the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Wednesday afternoon.

Smith, a sophomore from Suwanee, Georgia, led UNG to the Southeast Regional championship for the fifth time, recording a Division II best 320 strikeouts this year. She is 35-1 with a 0.83 ERA.

Smith joins former UNG pitchers Sarah Phillips, Jessica Coan and Courtney Poole, who won the award twice in her career, as winners of the Ron Lenz Pitcher of the Year award.

Smith was also named to the D2CCA All-American First Team while Amber Johns garnered third team honors. Shelby Hammontree was named an honorable mention in the poll.

This is the 12th season of the All-America program which is selected by CoSIDA members from schools playing in NCAA Division II and third in which the program was solely sponsored by the D2CCA.