University of Kentucky softball player Natalie Smith has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, it was announced today. This is the first SEC honor for Smith and the second time the Cats have earned top rookie honors this season.

This is the third weekly conference honor for the Wildcats this year. Third baseman Molly Johnson was named the Freshman of the Week earlier this month, while senior shortstop Brooke Marnitz earned Player of the Week honors on Feb. 12.

Smith was influential in the Wildcats 3-1 record this week and their first SEC series win since Mar. 18-19, 2006, as the Cats took two out of three from Ole Miss. UK also topped Marshall in a non-conference game last week.

Smith went 1-for-3 in the win over Marshall to extend her hitting streak to a career-best five games. The Glendale, Ariz., native snapped that streak in the opening game against Ole Miss but scored a run in that win and stole a career-best two bases in game one against the Rebels. Smith added three hits in game two against Ole Miss, going 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and the first home run of her collegiate career. Smith added a 2-for-4 performance in the series finale against Ole Miss and scored a run in the win.

For the week, Smith batted .429 with six runs scored and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. The second baseman had nine putouts and nine assists at second base for the Cats. She was a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts and collected 10 total bases in the four-game span.

Smith is now third on the team with a .392 batting average and has started all 28 games at second for UK. She leads the team with three triples and eight stolen bases and is second on the team with 24 runs scored. Smith also has four doubles and 15 RBI this season.

The Wildcats return to action this weekend, Mar. 31-Apr. 1, when they travel to Arkansas and LSU for five straight SEC road contests. UK returns home on Apr. 5 when it hosts Western Kentucky for a non-conference doubleheader.