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March 30, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – Sixth ranked South Carolina (21-4) returns to the baseball diamond on Wednesday night as the Gamecocks meet ninth ranked North Carolina (20-6) in the Battle of the Border at Knights Stadium in Ft. Mill, S.C. First pitch for Wednesday is set for 7:15 p.m. The Gamecocks will be the visiting team and occupy the first base dugout. South Carolina will start freshman LHP Arik Hempy (0-1, 2.13 ERA) with North Carolina to throw senior RHP Whitley Benson (3-0, 1.07 ERA).

This is the first regular season meeting between the two schools since the 1988 season. The Gamecocks and Tar Heels have met the last two seasons in the postseason with USC ousting North Carolina in the 2002 NCAA Regional and the 2003 NCAA Super Regional. South Carolina & North Carolina also tied for first in the 2003 Collegiate Baseball Recruiting Class Rankings.

Live audio broadcast and GAMETRACKER stats will be available at USCSPORTS.COM. The baseball game will also be carried on all affiliates of the Gamecock Baseball Radio Network including 103.1 FM in Columbia, S.C.