Softball | April 25, 2024

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Six University of South Carolina Aiken softball standouts have been named to the PBC all-conference team, as announced by the league office Thursday evening.

Payton Baker, Jena Dewalt and Austyn Dixon have been named to the first team while Skylar Morley, Lakyn Phillips and Mallory Shaver garnered second-team honors.

Baker, a native of Denver, N.C., recorded 13 victories and tossed 18 complete games. She threw a shutout and combined with Marlena Perez on another one. Baker picked up a team-best two saves on the year while throwing 153.2 innings. She struck out 154 batters and had a 2.87 ERA. Baker struck out 13 batters in the victory over Benedict, 11 in the win at Flagler and 10 in the win at Anderson. She's in the top 10 this year for the PBC in ERA, opposing batting average, innings pitched, batters struck out, wins and saves. 

Dewalt, a native of Newberry, S.C., played in 46 games. Her .386 batting average was second on the squad. Dewalt recorded 51 hits, including 11 doubles, five home runs and a team-best four triples. She drove in 23 runs, scored 36 times and led the squad with 17 steals. Dewalt posted a .644 slugging percentage, a .474 on-base percentage and a 1.118 OPS. She had a team-best 16 multi-hit games and 11 multi-run games on the season. Dewalt is fifth on the career list with 45 steals. She's in the PBC top 10 this year for batting average, on-base percentage, triples and stolen bases.

Dixon, a native of Kings Mountain, N.C., led the team with 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 106 total bases, 52 hits, a .746 slugging percentage and a 1.178 OPS in 48 games. She was third on the team with a .366 batting average. Dixon's 13 home runs and 53 RBI are the second most in each category in school history for a single season. She registered 15 multi-hit contests and a team-high 18 multi-RBI games on the year. She ranks in the top 10 in the PBC for slugging percentage, RBI, doubles, home runs and OPS.

Morley, a native of Gambrills, Md., sported a .315 batting average. She registered 39 hits on the season and scored 26 bases. Morley's 15 steals were second on the team. She notched a pair of doubles and the first two triples of her career this season and garnered a .726 OPS. Morley has career highs for runs, (26), hits (39), doubles (2), triples (2), slugging percentage (.363) and on-base percentage (.363) this year. She is in the top 10 of the PBC this year for single-season steals and is eighth on the career list in school history with 42 steals.

Phillips, a native of Lexington, S.C., registered 14 victories on the year. She tossed 151.1 innings and threw 15 complete games. Phillips moved into a tie for first place on the career saves list during the season. She struck out 170 batters and threw four shutouts. Phillips posted 14 strikeouts at Columbus State, 11 in the wins over Belmont Abbey and Georgia College and State and tossed 10 at Augusta. She's in the top 10 in the PBC for ERA, opposing batting average, innings pitched, batters struck out, batters struck out looking, wins and saves. 


Shaver, a native of Mint Hill, N.C., led the team with a .395 batting average. She accounted for 45 hits, including eight home runs, five doubles and a triple. Shaver drove in 27 runs while scoring 16 times. She accounted for a .667 slugging percentage, a .481 on-base percentage and garnered a 1.148 OPS while playing in 43 games. On the USC Aiken career list, Shaver is third in home runs (25), fifth in RBI (101) and tied for ninth in total bases (250). She's in the PBC top 10 for batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS.



First Team
1b - Hannah Smith, Flagler
2b - Brooke Miller, Columbus State
3b - Kam Caldwell, Georgia College & State University
SS - Sydney Stewart, Flagler
C - Austyn Dixon, USC Aiken
C - Georgia Blair, North Georgia
DP - Grayson Perry, North Georgia
UT - Bailee Roberts, Augusta
OF - Emily Allen, Lander
OF - Jena Dewalt, USC Aiken
OF - Mallory Parker, North Georgia
P - Tybee Denton, North Georgia
P - Payton Baker, USC Aiken
At-Large - Kenzie Bayer, Columbus State
At-Large - Abbie Behe, Lander
At-Large - Sophie Mooney, North Georgia
 
Second Team (At Large)
Caitlyn Canady, Columbus State
Raquel Camuglia, Lander
Katelyn Cooper, Columbus State
Kristen Davis, North Georgia
Karlie Gutierrez, Georgia College & State University
Laura Harris, Columbus State
Emily Hobbs, Georgia College & State University
Cierra Kinlaw, USC Beaufort
Mackenzie Martin, Georgia College & State University
Skylar Morley, USC Aiken
Bailey Pattison, Lander
Lakyn Phillips, USC Aiken
Hailey Pinette, Georgia Southwestern
Mallory Shaver, USC Aiken
Katie Ward, North Georgia
Madelyn Wise, Flagler
 
Elite 18 Award presented by Barnes & Noble College
Olivia Veidt, Lander
 
Player of the Year presented by College Ave.
Emily Allen, Lander
 
Pitcher of the Year presented by College Ave.
Tybee Denton, North Georgia
 
Freshman of the Year presented by College Ave.
Karlie Gutierrez, Georgia College & State University
 
co-Coaches of the Year presented by College Ave.
Mike Davenport, North Georgia
Kathryn Grant, Flagler