AIKEN — Travis Howard wants to make time for his hobby.

The avid outdoorsman would like to wet a line and replicate his feat as a 13-year-old. Seven years ago, he reeled in a 7-foot shark from the Intracoastal Waterway about an hour north of Charleston, S.C.

Howard also wouldn't mind trying to kill another 8-point, 205-pound buck with a 19-inch spread like the one he got two years ago.

"I don't get to fish or hunt much anymore," he said.

Time is limited for USC Aiken's cleanup hitter. All he does now is focus on baseball - something that's paid off this season for the junior first baseman/designated hitter.

Howard has his sights set on a pair of records when USC Aiken (39-17) plays host to the six-team NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, today through Sunday, at Roberto Hernandez Stadium. The second-ranked Pacers open the double-elimination tournament at 7 tonight against Belmont Abbey.

Howard, who's played in 55 of USC Aiken's 56 games, owns a team-best .405 batting average with 19 homers. He also has a school-record 100 RBI.

"One hundred RBI is a lot," he said. "I never thought I'd have that many at this point in the season. It helps when you have people in front of you on base all the time."

Howard, the Southeast Region Player of the Year, needs four more RBI to break the Peach Belt Conference record set by Kennesaw State's Jason Jones in 1998. With five more RBI, Howard will break the Division II record set by Central Oklahoma's Jarred McAlvain in 1997 (104 RBI in 63 games).

"It's pretty neat to be this close to it," Howard said of the national record. "If I ever were able to break it, it'd be something special."

"He needs about 130 RBI when all is said and done," USC Aiken coach Kenny Thomas said with a laugh. "If you're knocking in that many runs, you're obviously doing something right. But that also means he's on a team with guys getting on in front of him."

Howard began playing baseball at age 4 and hasn't stopped. He played two seasons at catcher for USC Salkehatchie before transferring last fall to USC Aiken.

Howard, 20, has shifted around the lineup this season. And he's moved around from catcher to first base to designated hitter. All the while, he's been productive.

USC Aiken has at least two more games this season - enough time for Howard to add to his RBI total. If the Pacers win the regional, they'll advance to the NCAA Division II World Series for the second time.

At the end of the season, Howard still will not have time to think about fishing or hunting.

He'll remain busy with baseball, competing in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, a wood bat league.