SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team placed three on the 2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Teams. Senior first baseman
Ryan Flores, a 2019 all-conference selection, was named to the first team. Graduate student designated hitter
Lee Thomas, another 2019 all-conference honoree, and sophomore shortstop
Grant Smith earned second team honors.
Ryan Flores
In 2019, Flores amassed 69 hits, 39 runs and 42 RBI for a .354 overall batting average. He also led the team with a .685 slugging percentage in conference action, including 11 doubles, a triple and seven home runs. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native was named to the 2019 Southland Conference second team and to the 2020 Southland Preseason first team prior to the start of the 2020 season. In 2020, Flores contributed 17 hits, 16 RBI and 12 runs.
Grant Smith
Smith started off hot in his first season for the black and red, even though the 2020 season was cut short due to COVID-19. He registered 19 hits, 15 RBI and 14 runs with a team-leading .339 batting average. He also recorded a .446 slugging percentage and a .465 on-base percentage.
Lee Thomas
In 2019, Thomas recorded 51 hits, 20 runs and 46 RBI for a .280 batting average. He also tallied 10 doubles and 12 home runs for a .533 slugging percentage. In the 2020 season that only saw 16 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas had 19 hits and 13 runs with a .328 batting average. He recorded five doubles and a home run to go along with a .466 slugging percentage and a .480 on-base percentage. The Katy, Texas, native was named to the 2019 Southland Conference second team and to the 2020 Southland Preseason second team prior to the start of the 2020 season.
The Cardinals begin their 2021 campaign with a six-game home stand at Sullivan Field against Oral Roberts and Texas Southern. First pitch against Oral Roberts is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Feb. 19.
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