AIKEN, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Aiken softball team and head coach Jerry Snyder announced the signing of two more players to a National Letter of Intent on Monday, Apr. 19. The duo joins a trio of pitchers who signed with the Pacers earlier in the season.

Coach Snyder and his staff remained fairly close to home, signing one player from the Palmetto State and another from familiar territory in the state of Florida.

A highly decorated player, Hillary Stewart played her high school ball at Blythewood High School in Blythewood, S.C. In addition to being named the Region Four Player of the Year in 2009, she was also named an All-Area and State selection in 2009 and was All-Region in both 2008 and 2009. Stewart was also honored by being named to the NFCA All-South First Team in 2009 and was a 2009 Battle of the Borer All-Star selection.

A catcher and third baseman, Stewart helped lead the Bengals to four consecutive region championships (2006-2009) and was also part of the team that claimed their district championship in 2008. She was awarded the Silver Slugger Batting Award in 2009 by Blythewood.

Equally strong in the classroom as she was on the diamond, Stewart was named an NFCA Academic All-America Scholar Athlete four years running (2007-10).

“Hillary is an outstanding Student-Athlete in every sense of the word,” stated Snyder. “She excels in both the classroom and on the field.  She brings a strong bat and outstanding awareness behind the plate.  We were lucky to land a player of her caliber and look forward to having her in a Pacer uniform”

A native of Palatka, Fla., Kayla Denham comes to the Pacer program from a familiar junior college school for the Pacers, as she will be departing Daytona State College for Aiken after playing two years for the Falcons. The Pacers brought in out-going senior hurler Kathleen Nichols from then Daytona Beach Community College two years ago. The school recently changed its name to the current Daytona State College.

The centerfielder for the Falcons in 2010, Denham was named the FCCAA Mid-Florida Conference Second Team in 2009. She was also names to the Sun's Class 4A First Team All-Area Softball Team in 2008 and a Third Team All-State Selection in 2007.

“Kayla plays in an extremely competitive NJCAA Region, and will bring needed experience at the college level,” stated Snyder. “She has a strong arm and a powerful bat. We feel that will be able to come in and contribute immediately.”

The pair joins a Pacer squad that has shared much success recently, including having been ranked nationally at some point during the last two seasons. The 2010 Pacers were ranked a softball program preseason-best, 13th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Preseason Top-25 poll, and remained ranked well into the season. The current squad has also been able to keep the Pacers' current streak of 20-win seasons alive at seven.

The 2009 edition of the Pacer softball squad finished their campaign ranked a program-best 12th in the final NFCA Division II Top-25 poll. They were the first of head coach Jerry Snyder's squads to reach the NCAA Division II Tournament, and ended the season with a record of 34-16. The Pacers' 2009 mark garnered them the best winning percentage in program history, and their 34 victories tied them for second in program history for the most wins in a single season and marked the seventh time a Pacer softball team had achieved at least 30 wins in a campaign.