May 29, 2003

Atlanta, Ga. – The South Carolina Gamecock baseball team will open its fourth consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament as they face the East Carolina Pirates Friday at Georgia Tech’s Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Game time is set for 3 p.m. (ET). With a 39-20 record, USC will send senior right-hander Chris Hernandez (4-4, 3.07 ERA) to the mound for his fourth start of the year. This marks the fourth consecutive season that the No. 2 seed Gamecocks have made an NCAA appearance, 19th overall. USC has won eight total regionals.

ECU (33-25-1) will start right-handed senior Will Brinson (3-3, 4.48 ERA). Brinson leads the team in innings pitched with 90.1 and has 71 strikeouts and 24 walks for the season. Shortstop Darryl Lawhorn leads the Pirates at the plate with a .336 batting average and has 13 home runs and 43 RBI. First baseman Ryan Norwood also has 13 home runs and 43 RBI and boasts a .300 batting average.

This marks the second time the Gamecocks have played ECU at Russ Chandler Stadium. In 1993, USC defeated the Pirates 4-3 in the opening round, but lost to Wichita State 3-2 and was eliminated by Georgia Tech 12-0. For the series against ECU, Carolina leads 10-3 and is 3-0 against the Pirates in NCAA Tournament play.

Live radio broadcast for Friday’s game will be available on AM 1320.