Today would mark Senior Day for the softball team against Young Harris. With the shortened season, the following student-athletes are not able to be recognized in person. However, we would like to take a few moments to showcase what the student-athletes have done for the school since their arrival.

The student-athletes could return in 2021 with the extra year of eligibility, but USC Aiken wanted to include all the current seniors in the article.

The order is from newest on the team and then the four-year student-athletes in alphabetical order.

Katie Painter is a native of Charleston, S.C. and transferred to USC Aiken prior to her junior year. She played in 49 games, earning 48 starts during her first season. Katie drove in 25 runs, had 11 extra-base hits and stole 12 bases. She blasted her first two career home runs against Catawba, including a grand slam. This year, Katie had six multi-hit games. She drove in eight runs while scoring 12 times. Katie had 13 steals on the season, including a career-high three in the win over Shaw.

Katie will graduate with a degree in chemistry.

Hanna Hyder is a four-year student-athlete. The outfielder has been a solid competitor and teammate throughout her four years at USC Aiken. As a freshman, she played in 33 games while slugging .441. Hanna drove in a pair of game-winning runs that season. As a sophomore, she played in 21 games and pounded out three extra-base hits. Last year, the Aiken, S.C., native saw time in 29 contests, drove in four runs and scored 10 times. She also recorded her first career triple while also swiping six bases. This season, Hanna saw time in nine games, earning four starts. She batted .308 while driving in a pair of runs. Hanna had a two-hit performance in the victory over Shaw. She had a multi-hit game with a double and one RBI in the win at Erskine.  Hanna was perfect on the base paths, swiping five bases. In her final game, she accounted for her first assist in the field.

Hanna will graduate with a degree in exercise and sports science.

Sarah Sams is a native of Gaston, S.C. She has been an outstanding teammate and competitor throughout her four years. After playing in 27 games as a freshman, she saw time in 36 games as a sophomore. That year, Sarah led the team with 73 assists. She notched a pair of hits and drove in two in the win over Flagler in 2018. Last season, she started all 50 games. Sarah drove in 11 runs and scored 14 times. In the win over the Saints, she recorded two doubles, drove in two and scored twice. Defensively, she tallied 104 assists, making several remarkable plays with her arm. This year, she played in 18 games, notching 14 starts. Sarah drove in two runs while scoring four times. The three-time all-academic team selection swiped all five bases she attempted. The dynamic fielder shifted to third base and registered a season-best four assists on three occasions while posting a .970 fielding percentage.  

Sarah will graduate with a degree in exercise and sports science.

Kathleen St. Peter is a native of Spring Lake, N.C. She has been solid throughout her four years with the team. After playing in seven games as a freshman, the three-time PBC all-academic team honoree saw time in 21 games as a sophomore. She posted 14 hits, drove in three and scored four times. Last year, Kathleen played in 25 games, notching 21 starts. She drove in 14 runs and scored seven times. Kathleen launched a three-run homer in the win over Fayetteville State and smashed another three-run dinger in the win at Belmont Abbey. This year, she started three games. Kathleen posted hits against Fayetteville State and Columbus State. She drove in a run and scored in the win over the Broncos. Kathleen was perfect in the field, registering 18 putouts.   

Kathleen will graduate with a degree in exercise and sports science.

Courtney Strauss is a native of North Augusta, S.C. The four-year starter played in 39 games as a freshman. She drove in a run in her first collegiate game, a win over Limestone, before posting three hits in the nightcap victory over the Saints. As a sophomore, Courtney saw time in 45 games, earning 43 starts while finishing with a .316 batting average. She swatted 13 extra-base hits on the year. Courtney went four-for-four with a triple, double and two RBI against Lees-McRae. As a junior, the two-time all-academic team selection started 48 games, driving in 17 runs and scoring 23 times. Courtney had 12 extra-base hits and slugged .410 on the year. She had homers against Benedict, Claflin and UNC Pembroke. Courtney drove in a season-high four runs in the win over Limestone. This year, she batted .338 with four round-trippers and 14 RBI while starting all 26 games. She also slugged .525 while swiping six bases. Courtney accounted for seven multi-hit games, including a season-high three hits in the win at Erskine. In the outfield, she had a 1.000 fielding percentage while registering three assists, including throwing a runner out at first base against Fayetteville State.   

Courtney will graduate with a degree in business marketing.

Thank you all for not only what you've done for the program, but also the university.