The University of South Carolina Aiken team is looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. With the amount of talent head coach Jerry Snyder has returning, in addition to the newcomers, the Pacers should be well prepared for a solid 2015 campaign.

INFIELD

At first base, Snyder could have multiple players here throughout the year. However, sophomore Magan Thrower will look to improve upon her rookie campaign that saw her produce six home runs and 17 RBI in 45 games.

Fellow second-year standout Madison Labrador and senior Makenzie Barbor are battling for the spot at second base.

As a freshman, Labrador played in 50 games and drove in 14 runs. She accounted for four homers, including one in her first career at bat. During Barbor's first year on the team, she saw action in 21 games and yielded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. A defensive replacement and pinch runner for the most part, Barbor recorded a .324 on-base percentage in limited plate appearances.

At the hot corner is junior Samantha Chubb. After transferring from Aiken Tech last year, Chubb exploded onto the scene as a dominant power hitter. She posted a team-high 10 round-trippers and drove in 38 runs while slugging .529 in 46 games. Chubb registered a .926 fielding percentage despite playing just a few yards away from home plate on several occasions.

Senior Ashley Metts should solidify the infield with her outstanding defensive play at shortstop. During her first year at USC Aiken, she posted a .975 fielding percentage after totaling just three errors in 119 chances. Offensively, she tallied six homers and 22 RBI while playing in 50 games.  

Behind the plate, the team lost Alyssa Cook due to graduation, but returns Andrea Daring while adding newcomers Ericka David and Sydney Murphy.

Daring played in 25 games during her sophomore season and could see time not only behind the plate, but could also spell Thrower at first base as she did from time to time in 2014. She registered four homers last year, including what turned out to be the game-winning two-run homer against Columbus State.

David had an outstanding career at Cox Mill H.S. where she was a four-year all-conference selection.

Murphy was also a four-time all-conference selection coming out of Finneytown H.S., in Cincinnati, Ohio. Twice she batted over .500 and led her ASA team to the national tournament on three occasions.


OUTFIELD

Snyder boasts arguably the best defensive outfield in the conference with Sarah Montei patrolling center field. The junior is coming off a year that saw her register three homers and 21 RBI despite being asked to bunt over former all-region standout Kaitlyn White for much of the season. Defensively, Montei had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 57 chances. She registered 53 putouts to go along with four assists, turning one double play.

In left field, senior Victoria Burkett should see the starting role. Last year, she played some in right field but is arguably the most versatile student-athlete on the team. In 2014, she played in 45 games while earning 32 starts at various positions.

Rookie Lyndie Dorgan saw plenty of time in right field during the fall season and could be there once again on opening day. She was the Class 2A Player of the Year and was a four-year all-state honoree at Gilbert H.S. Dorgan could see time in multiple roles for the Pacers.

Battling Dorgan for the opening day spot in right field is fellow newcomer, junior Dani Reeves. She comes from USC Sumter where she registered a .373 batting averaged and a .576 slugging percentage. A local product, Reeves was an all-region selection coming out of Aiken H.S.  She has competed well in the fall and during spring practice so Snyder has either as a viable option and both should see a lot of playing time.

PITCHERS

Snyder lost arguably the best pitcher to ever play for USC Aiken with the graduation of India Kornegay. However, he returns a wealth of talent in third-year hurler Taylor Morgan. He also added some outstanding talent in transfer Danielle Payne, in addition to newcomers Karly Kinard and Lyndie Dorgan.

Morgan has already won 21 games during her career and has tossed 35 complete games. The junior has 308 strikeouts, averaging 6.98 per game for her career.

Payne is well prepared for the PBC, having played at Francis Marion. With the Patriots, she registered six wins while striking out 63 in 107.1 innings of work. Prior to Francis Marion, Payne won 30 games at Aiken Tech.

Kinard is a local product that struck out 182 batters in just 130 innings as a senior. She garnered all-state accolades and was a two-time all-region honoree. She is coming off an injury during the fall season, but should help the depth of the deep pitching staff.

Dorgan was impressive during the fall season as she was forced into pitching duties multiple times due to injuries. At Gilbert H.S., she recorded 69 wins and is used to having several roles on a team.

SCHEDULE

The Pacers have just 10 home dates, totaling 20 games this season. Part of this is due to a huge tournament the team is playing in for the second straight year in Raleigh, N.C.

USC Aiken opens its season with four straight home non-conference games. Snyder's squad hosts Queens on Thursday, Feb. 12, before entertaining Newberry on Feb. 17. After that, the Pacers are away from home until a March 8 contest.

During the time USC Aiken is away from home, the team kicks off its conference schedule. On Feb. 19, the team plays a doubleheader at Lander before heading to Raleigh, N.C., for a five-game weekend tournament. At the Shaw Softball Challenge, the team takes on Winston-Salem, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, Lees-McRae and Mount Olive.

The team has a small break before playing at South Atlantic Conference foes Carson-Newman (March 3) and Lenoir-Rhyne (March 6) before hosting Montevallo on March 8 in the PBC home opener.

The Pacers step out of league play for a mid-week doubleheader at Claflin (March 18) prior to hosting four straight PBC schools. USC Aiken entertains GRU Augusta (March 20), Armstsrong State (March 22), Columbus State (March 27) and Georgia Southwestern (March 29) before playing its last non-conference road doubleheader of the season (March 31 at Erskine).

In April, Snyder's squad hosts just three teams while playing away from home five times before the league tournament. The Pacers host Flagler (Apr. 1), Belmont Abbey (Apr. 8) and West Georgia (Apr. 14). The team plays at Young Harris (Apr. 5), at North Georgia (Apr. 10), at Georgia College (Apr. 12), and at UNC Pembroke (Apr. 17) before wrapping up the regular season at Francis Marion (Apr. 19).

Weekly Notes - 01