March 24, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – The 13th-ranked South Carolina softball team (19-7, 3-2) returns to SEC play this weekend as they travel to Fayetteville, Ark. to face the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks (16-18, 4-8 SEC). The Gamecocks were idle last weekend while Arkansas went 1-2 against the Florida Gators. Carolina will play a doubleheader at 6 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday at the Lady ‘Back Yard. The third and final game of the series will be Wednesday at 3 p.m. (ET). For the series, Arkansas leads Carolina 9-7, but last year USC won the series 2-1.

This marks the third trip to Fayetteville for USC and in Arkansas, the Lady ‘Backs lead the series 3-2. Carolina’s last visit to Fayetteville was in 2001 and the Gamecocks took the series 2-1.

With the Arkansas series, Carolina will begin a stint of 18 games in 20 days. The Gamecocks will compete in six SEC series including four on the road (Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia) and two at home (Tennessee and Florida).

Leading the way for the Gamecocks is Amber Curtis who is hitting .400 and has a current seven-game hitting streak, her longest of the season. On the pitching side, Stacey Johnson has the lowest team ERA with 1.40 and an 8-4 record. Freshman Ashley Smith and senior Debralee Troesh both lead the team in RBIs with 18 each.