University of South Alabama Athletics

2012 (Junior):  Went 2-6 with a 5.49 ERA in 14 appearances, eight of which were starts ... Ranked second on the team with 56 strikeouts in 59 innings ... Recorded two quality starts on the year ... Made his first career start and recorded his first career strikeout against No. 32 College of Charleston (Feb. 19) ... Tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings and struck out seven while allowing just two hits in a no-decision at Mississippi State (April 10) ... Struck out a career-high eight batters in a career-high eight innings at Arkansas State (May 6) ... Allowed one earned run on five hits, and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings against Western Kentucky (May 13) to earn his first career win ... Allowed one run on three hits while striking out four in six relief innings against Florida Atlantic (May 25) in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament to earn his second win of the season.

Junior college:  Ranked 11th nationally with a 1.77 ERA as a sophomore at Shelton State (Ala.) CC ... Named first-team all-region by the Alabama Community College Conference after going 5-1 with in 76 1/3 innings pitched ... Led SSCC in innings pitched and strikeouts (77) ... Issued just 23 walks in 15 appearances ... Limited the opposition to a .144 batting average as a sophomore ... Struck out a career-high 12  batters in eight innings pitched during a March 26 contest against Jefferson State CC.

High school:  Lettered two years in baseball and one in football at Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham ... Went 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA and recorded 67 strikeouts as a senior ... Named Birmingham News South Zone Pitcher of the Year as a senior ... Posted a 3.30 ERA and recorded 45 strikeouts as a junior ... Named an Alabama Baseball Coaches Association all-star as a junior.

Personal:  Full name is Payton Webb Gardner ... Born Dec. 2, 1989, in Birmingham, Ala. ... Son of Buddy and Susan Gardner ... The second of two children ... Father, Buddy, lettered in golf at Auburn from 1974-77 and was a two-time All-American (1976-77) ... Father also played on PGA Tour from 1978-93 ... Hobbies include fishing and hunting ... Favorite movie is “For Love Of The Game” ... Favorite book is “Lone Survivor” ... Lists the Atlanta Braves among his favorite teams ... Favorite athlete is Dwyane Wade ... Favorite food is steak ... Majoring in interdisciplinary studies.