University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

AIKEN, S.C. – The Hutson-Etherredge Companies and Auto-Owners Insurance USC Aiken Student-Athlete of the Week is softball standout Payton Baker.

Baker, a native of Denver, N.C., guided the Pacers to a 2-2 week.

She got the starting nod in the season opener against Francis Marion and worked 7.2 innings. Baker struck out nine and did not give up an earned run while scattering four hits. She did not allow a walk in the extra-inning game.

In the first game against Newberry, Baker worked all seven frames and had eight strikeouts without a walk. She allowed seven hits but did not give up an earned run.

Against the Wolves in the nightcap, Baker came in and worked the final 1.2 innings in relief. She had a strikeout and allowed just two hits to pick up the save.

For the week, Baker recorded 18 strikeouts while giving up just one walk and one run in 16.1 innings of work.

The Hutson-Etherredge Companies and Auto-Owners Insurance USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Week honors one student-athlete each week from an in-season sport for their hard work and effort.






Sept. 4, 2023 - Kari Mercer, Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2023 – Julio Rojas, Men's Cross Country
Sept. 18, 2023 - Gyöngyvér Araczki, Volleyball
Sept. 25, 2023 – Lucas Pegorer, Men's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2023 – Cat Bodick, Volleyball
Oct. 9, 2023 – Rory McDonald O'Brien, Golf
Oct. 16, 2023 - Emily Lammers, Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2023 – Tess Studley, Women's Cross Country
Oct. 30, 2023 – Avery List, Women's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2023 – Riley Campbell, Men's Cross Country
Nov. 13, 2023 - Gyöngyvér Araczki, Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2023 – Emily Lammers, Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2023 – Jameel Rideout, Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2023 - Hailey Unger, Women's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2023 – Jalen McCoy, Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2023 – Demitrios Dixon, Men's Basketball
Dec. 24, 2023 - Marta Rivera, Women's Basketball
Jan. 1, 2024 - Hailey Unger, Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2024 - Jalen McCoy, Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2024 – Jalen McCoy, Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2024 – Jalen McCoy, Men's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2024 – Tyler Johnson, Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2024 – Payton Baker, Softball