March 7, 2003

Columbia, S.C. –
Carolina softball opens the 2003 SEC season Saturday, March 8 as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a three-game series. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the final game of the series will be Sunday, March 9 at 1 p.m. USC currently has a seven-game win streak and is 14-5 for the season. The Bulldogs are 15-5 and currently have a 10-game win streak.

The Gamecocks are 5-1 in SEC openers and this marks the first time USC has opened the SEC season against MSU. Last year, Carolina took the series 2-1 in Starkville and defeated the Bulldogs 11-5 at the SEC Tournament in Chattanooga. Overall, USC leads the series against MSU 13-7. In Columbia, Carolina leads the series 3-2. The last time USC lost to the Bulldogs in Columbia was March 2001.

Iyhia McMichael leads Mississippi State with a .458 hitting average, 25 RBI and five home runs. On the pitching side for the Bulldogs, Melissa Massey boasts a 10-1 record with a 1.85 ERA.

For the fans, Saturday is “Recycle Day”. Bring newspaper to be recycled and get in for $1. “Sunday is Mother/Daughter Day”. All mothers and daughters get in for $1.