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March 31, 2005
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina (21-5, 2-4 SEC) returns to conference action on Friday night hosting Georgia (15-9, 2-3 SEC) in a three-game series at Sarge Frye Field. Friday night’s game is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised on CSS-TV with Matt Stewart and Nate Ross calling the action. Saturday’s first pitch is 4 p.m. and will be televised on SEC-TV and FOX Sports Net South with Dave Neal and Nick Belmonte broadcasting the game. Sunday’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. All three games will be on air on the South Carolina Radio Network with live gametracker stats and live audio also available at www.uscsports.com. Mike Morgan and Tommy Moody will call all three games on radio for Carolina.
PITCHING ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina: Aaron Rawl, RHP, Sr. (5-2, 2.38 ERA)
Georgia: Mitchell Boggs, RHP, Jr. (2-2, 2.84 ERA)
Saturday
South Carolina: Zac McCamie, RHP, Sr. (5-1, 2.43 ERA)
Georgia: Michael Hyle, RHP, Jr. (1-1, 3.77 ERA)
Sunday
South Carolina: TBA
Georgia: Sean Ruthven, RHP, Sr. (1-1, 3.65 ERA)
BUSY WEEK
South Carolina completes a busy five schedule this weekend with a three game Southeastern Conference series at Sarge Frye Field against the Georgia Bulldogs. Carolina defeated Brown University 7-2 Tuesday night at Sarge Frye and The Citadel 4-2 Wednesday night at Joe Riley Park in Charleston. The Gamecocks lead the Georgia series 43-36, but the Bulldogs won two of three last year in Athens when Georgia won the SEC regular season championship. Game times for the Georgia series are 7 p.m., Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday and 1:30 p.m., on Sunday.
BIG CROWD
The announced crowd of 5,803 that attended the South Carolina-Citadel game Wednesday night in Charleston was the largest crowd ever for a home game at The Citadel. The listed capacity of Joseph P. Riley Park in Charleston is 6,000. With a large alumni base in the South Carolina low country, a large portion of the crowd wore the South Carolina colors of garnet and black.
DONALD
Senior right-hander Cliff Donald pitched five strong innings at The Citadel in his first start of the season and earned his first 2005 win. Donald allowed four hits and one earned run, did not walk a batter, and struck out two. In his fourth season on the Gamecock staff, Donald has pitched in 50 games, mostly as a middle relief or set up man. In 82 1/3 innings his career record is three wins, one loss and two saves.
HITTING STREAKS
Second baseman Chris Brown had one hit Wednesday night at The Citadel, a third inning double, to stretch his current hitting streak to nine games. Outfielder Michael Campbell singled in the fifth inning to extend his streak to eight games.
BROADCASTS
The SEC series with Georgia this weekend will be broadcast on the Gamecock Radio Network throughout South Carolina, as well as on the Internet. Mike Morgan, just back from the basketball Gamecocks’ run to the National Invitation Tournament championship game in New York’s Madison Square Garden, is the play-by-play announcer with Tommy Moody the color analyst.
POLLS
South Carolina dropped a few more spots in the national polls this week. After losing the first two Southeastern Conference series to Arkansas and Florida two games to one. South Carolina dropped from sixth to tenth in the Collegiate Baseball poll and from ninth to 14th in the Baseball America rankings. The Gamecocks dropped from sixth to eighth in the ESPN/Sports Weekly poll. South Carolina came home from Florida with a 19-5 overall record, 2-4 in the Southeastern Conference.
TANNER
Ray Tanner is in his ninth season at South Carolina and his 18th as a collegiate head coach. His record with the Gamecocks is 393-157, a winning percentage of .715. Tanner’s overall record is 788-330-3, a winning percentage of .704. In nine seasons at N. C. State his record was 395-173-3. Tanner won his 350th game at South Carolina April 30, 2004 in the first game of a series with Mississippi.
DISABLED LIST
Junior catcher Cory Vanderhook underwent surgery Thursday to repair the medial meniscus in his left knee. He is expected to be on the disabled list from three to six weeks. Right fielder Brendan Winn missed the Brown and Citadel games this week due to a sore back but is expected to be available for the Georgia game. Winn leads the Gamecocks in home runs with eight and runs batted in with 26.
JEFFORDS
Sophomore right-hander Jeff Jeffords pitched five innings of middle relief Tuesday night against Brown and allowed only one hit. Jeffords relieved starter Wynn Pelzer with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning and South Carolina trailing 2-0. Brown managed only two base runners, one reaching on an error. Brent Marsh relieved Jeffords with the score tied and received credit for the 7-2 win. In eight relief appearances covering 11 2/3 innings this season Jeffords has not allowed a run. He has 15 strikeouts and has walked three.
RAWL
Senior right-hander Aaron Rawl moved into a tie for fifth place on South Carolina’s career win list when he notched his 31st victory March 25 at Florida. Rawl, who pitched seven innings, combined with Jason Fletcher to shut the Gators out 2-0. Rawl struck out nine and allowed five hits in improving his season record to 5-2. His career mark is 31-11. David Marchbanks (2001-03), Matt Threehouse (1989-93) and Dennis Lubert (1979-82) also won 31 games. Earl Bass (1972-75) and Greg Ward (1972-75) are tied for third and fourth with 34 career wins. Rawl is the ninth South Carolina pitcher to achieve 30 or more career wins.
MCCAMIE
Senior right-hander Zac McCamie lost his first game as a Gamecock when he was charged with a 7-3 defeat at Florida March 26. A week earlier, McCamie defeated Arkansas at Sarge Frye Field. McCamie’s 2005 record to 5-1and his two year mark to 12-1 since coming to Carolina from Seminole Community College in Georgia.
