Cooper Smith is UNC Asheville’s late-season ace with real Friday-night bite
In the 2026 season, redshirt senior RHP Cooper Smith became UNC Asheville’s most reliable power arm, highlighted by a complete-game shutout of Winthrop on May 3 with 9 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 130 pitches for his third complete game of the year. He followed that with another strong eight-inning outing against Radford, showing the kind of stamina and composure coaches love. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Smith’s edge is durability, strike-throwing, and the ability to miss bats deep into games—ideal for a staff that wants a workhorse who can take the ball and settle things down.