April 5, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After sweeping the three-game series with Tennessee early in the week, the South Carolina softball team (26-11, 7-5 SEC) will host Southeastern Conference opponent Auburn University (26-15, 5-7 SEC) on April 6-7 in the series of a nine-game homestand.

The Gamecocks hold a distinctive edge against the Tigers, having won 11 of 13 games, including a three-game sweep last year in Auburn.

Carolina enters the series this weekend boasting a five-game win-streak. USC beat ETSU twice in their last home series and then took three games from Tennessee in Knoxville earlier this week. Auburn also comes into the game on a hot streak, having won their last five of six games, including a three-game sweep of Mississippi this past weekend. The Tigers also took two of three against Florida last week.

The Gamecocks will look to senior Adrianna Baggetta for continued run production as she went 4-for-9, had three homeruns, five RBI’s, and scored four runs in the series against Tennessee. USC will also look to senior pitcher Megan Mathews to control the Tiger bats. Matthews reached the 1,000-strikeout pinnacle in the first game of the UT series. She is only the 13th player in NCAA Division I history to reach the mark. Carolina looks to break back into the top 25 rankings after a two-week hiatus and is currently in first place in the SEC East division. The Tigers are currently fifth in the SEC West.

The first game of the Saturday doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Beckham Field. Saturday is “Church and Youth League Day”, where admission is $1 for members of church and youth teams wearing their team jersey. Sunday is also scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and is “Girl Scout Day”. All uniformed Girl Scouts will be admitted into the game free. Following Sunday’s game an autograph session will be held.