Feb. 27, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that South Carolina softball’s Ashton Payne was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Payne, the Gamecocks’ starting second baseman, led USC to a 3-1 week, went 7-for-14 to hit .500 and scored five of USC’s 16 runs. This is the first SEC honor for South Carolina this season.

Payne scored a run in all but one game last week, recorded a hit in all but one game and went 3-for-3 in stolen bases. The Richmond, Va. native also recorded her first career triple in the Georgia Southern win. Against Georgia Southern, she went 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI. She scored the tying run against Charlotte, scored the tying run against Fordham to force extra innings, scored the first run against Georgia Southern and drove in three runs with her triple against GSU.

South Carolina returns to action Tuesday afternoon when they host the Campbell Camels at 3 p.m. at Beckham Field.

The doubleheader can be followed live at uscsports.com via Gametracker and live audio webcast.