Jan. 5, 2004

Columbia, S.C. –
The University of South Carolina baseball team has been ranked No. 7 in the Baseball America preseason Top 25 college baseball rankings. The Gamecocks open up the 2004 season on Saturday, February 7 at Wofford with the home opener set for Friday, February 13 vs. Charleston Southern.

South Carolina is one of five teams in the SEC to be named to the preseason poll. LSU is ranked second, Auburn is ranked 12th, Ole Miss is 17th and Florida has been selected 20th. The Gamecocks have 17 games scheduled against preseason ranked opponents this year with 37 home games this season at Sarge Frye Field.

In the 2003 season, the Gamecocks reached the College World Series for the second consecutive year, compiled a 45-22 overall record and won its fourth SEC Eastern Division title in the last five seasons. Over the past four years, the South Carolina baseball program is the second winningiest program in Division I baseball with a 207-70 record making four straight appearances in the NCAA Regionals and NCAA Super Regionals.

BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 25
RK — TEAM — 2003 RECORD
1. Rice 58-12
2. Louisiana State 45-22
3. Miami 45-17
4. Cal State Fullerton 50-16
5. Georgia Tech 44-18
6. Stanford 51-18
7. South Carolina 45-22
8. Texas 50-20
9. Long Beach State 41-20
10. Tulane 44-19
11. Clemson 39-22
12. Auburn 42-21
13. Baylor 45-23
14. Wichita State 49-27
15. North Carolina 42-23
16. Arizona 35-23
17. Mississippi 35-27
18. Arizona State 54-14
19. Notre Dame 45-18
20. Florida 37-21
21. Texas A&M 45-19
22. Florida State 54-13
23. Florida Atlantic 47-16
24. Nebraska 47-18
25. North Carolina State 45-18