April 25, 2002

Columbia, S.C. – The SEC East-leading South Carolina Gamecocks (35-14, 16-8 SEC) will face 15th-ranked Alabama (41-13, 20-4 SEC) in Tuscaloosa this Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. Saturday’s doubleheader is slated for a 2:00 p.m. (EDT) start and Sunday’s game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (EDT).

The Gamecocks enter the series having won 14 of their last 17 games despite losing two of three to Florida this past weekend. Carolina pitcher Megan Matthews had a record-setting outing against Florida as she pitched her second no-hitter of the season, her sixth career, and claimed the USC career strikeout mark. She is also one win away from becoming the first Carolina pitcher to win 20 games in four consecutive seasons. The Gamecocks win last Sunday cemented a playoff spot in the SEC tournament May 9-12 and are now three games away from clinching the SEC East title outright.

Alabama comes into the series with an eight-game win streak, having lost only four games in the SEC. They are currently in second place in the SEC West behind LSU. Crimson Tide first baseman Jackie McClain was named this week’s SEC Player of the Week after going 7-15 with three runs and four RBI’s last week against Mississippi State.

Carolina leads the series with Alabama 10-4 overall including a 2-2 record at Tuscaloosa. The Gamecocks took three of four games from the Crimson Tide last year. The last time the two teams met, USC beat Alabama 2-0 in the second round of the 2001 SEC Tournament.

The Gamecocks will return home to play a doubleheader against the Lady Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina next Wednesday, May 1. The first game is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.