PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers softball has its first-ever National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American in program history.

Senior pitcher/outfielder Morgan Smith was recognized as a Second Team All-NFCA All-American in a vote by the All-American committee members composed of one elected member head coach from each of the NFCA's 10 regions. The award places the Scarlet Knight among the top 1% of student-athletes competing during the 2024 season.
 

Smith advanced to the ballot after being selected First Team NFCA All-Region. Smith was one of 46 Scarlet Knight NFCA All-Region selections since 1986, but the first RU student-athlete to earn all-america honors by the organization.

The prestigious award caps an outstanding 2024 season for Smith, who also earned First Team All-America honors by Softball America on Tuesday. Smith was a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honoree and recognized on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for the second-consecutive season. Entering May, Smith was named the No. 1 two-way player in the country in Softbal America's May position power rankings. Additionally, her play helped contribute to Rutgers' first-ever back-to-back 30-win seasons, a program record for Big Ten victories and Big Ten series wins and the highest Big Ten Tournament seed since joining the league in 2015. Smith set new school records for season RBIs and helped RU break the school record for team record for single-season runs scored and runs batted in.

During the 2024 campaign, Smith hit .408 on the year behind 69 hits, 14 doubles, four triples and 19 home runs while collecting a Rutgers season-record 66 RBIs. At the start of NCAA Tournament play, she ranked 11th in home runs, sixth in RBIs, ninth in slugging percentage and fourth in sacrifice flies. Among her Big Ten peers, she led the league in RBIs, was second in home runs and slugging percentage, third in batting average, fourth in runs and triples and seventh in doubles. On defense, Smith held a .983 field percentage playing at both center field and pitcher having only made one error at each position on 118 chances. Altogether she collected 67 putouts and 49 assists.  Along with her time in center field, Smith also tossed 130.2 innings with 93 strikeouts inside the circle. She finished the season 11-10 overall with a 3.54 ERA in 30 appearances with 21 starts and seven complete games.

In addition to her single-season RBI record, Smith has placed her name in the Rutgers record book second in career batting average, eighth in career RBIs (112), ninth in career triples (6), second in season home runs (19), fourth in season hits (69), seventh in season batting average (.408) and tenth in season doubles (14).
 

Follow Rutgers softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 

- RU -