Jan. 29, 2003

Columbia, S.C. –
The USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll was released today and the South Carolina Gamecocks were ranked No. 20. The Gamecocks have now been in the preseason rankings of the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll seven of the last eight years. South Carolina is also one of four SEC teams to be ranked in the current poll.

The Gamecocks are scheduled to play 10 teams that are currently ranked in the poll, including top-ranked UCLA. Other teams include No. 4 Michigan and Nebraska, No. 6 Washington, No. 7 LSU, No. 10 Cal State Fullerton, No. 17 Georgia Tech, No. 19 Georgia, No. 22 Alabama and No. 23 Oregon State. Of those teams, the Garnet and Black will host three in Columbia: LSU, Georgia Tech and Alabama.

Last year in the final polls, the Gamecocks finished the season ranked 12th. This year’s preseason ranking is USC’s highest since 2001 when Carolina entered the season at No. 22.

The 2003 softball season gets underway on Sun., Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. when the North Carolina Tar Heels come to Beckham Field for a doubleheader.

USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll – Preseason

1. UCLA (18), 55-9,
2 Arizona (2), 55-12,
3. California (2), 56-19,
t-4. Michigan, 50-11,
t-4. Nebraska, 50-14,
6. Washington, 46-18,
7. LSU, 56-11,
8. Oklahoma, 49-16,
9. Florida State, 55-20,
10. Cal State Fullerton, 53-13,
11. DePaul, 50-11,
12. Texas, 50-13,
13. Arizona State, 46-20,
14. Stanford, 44-20,
15. Fresno State, 50-20,
16. Ohio State, 55-14,
t-17. Notre Dame, 44-16,
t-17. Georgia, 59-17,
19. Georgia Tech, 52-18,
20. South Carolina, 46-20,
21. Pacific, 43-17,
22. Alabama, 46-19,
23. Oregon State, 40-25,
24. Texas A&M, 40-18,
25. Massachusetts, 53-13,