Payne Makes Most Of Playing Time

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Erik Payne’s baseball career got off to a slow start. After two total hits as a freshman Payne had hoped to earn the starting job at third base this year as a sophomore. Junior college transfer L.B. Dantzler ended up winning that job in preseason practice to keep Payne on the bench. But after a slow start by several different players this year at second base, USC Head Baseball Coach Ray Tanner told Payne to take some ground balls on the other side of the infield last Thursday. Payne was surprised when Tanner inserted him into the lineup the next day for the weekend series against Princeton. The sophomore from Virginia responded by going 4-9 for the weekend, including a 2-3 Sunday with his first career home run and 2 RBI. “I just go out there and try to play as relaxed as possible in the opportunities that I get, and it’s worked out so far,” Payne said. “I’m happy for him,” Tanner said. “He’ll get some other cracks. He may or may not be the guy down the stretch, but I’m happy for what he’s done. He deserves to be there.”