AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of South Carolina Aiken baseball standouts Ty Barkell, Grayson Smith and Ben Donath have been named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team, as announced by the league office Friday.

Barkell and Smith earned first-team honors while Donath picked up honorable mention accolades. Barkell, a native of Denver, Colo., has a 3.664 GPA while majoring in business administration. Smith, a native of Aiken, S.C., has a 3.926 GPA while majoring in biology. Donath, a native of Aiken, S.C., carries a 3.417 GPA while majoring in exercise and sports science.

The team is part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference is home to 33 NCAA Division II National Championships. 14 member institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama compete in 13 championship sports. 2013-14 members are Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Regents University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Lander University, University of Montevallo, North Georgia College & State University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke the University of South Carolina Aiken, and Young Harris College.