Feb. 15, 2006
Baseball
The baseball squad opened its season by taking two of three games from Elon. The Gamecocks overcame a three-run defi cit to pull out a 5-4 win in 11 innings in the season opener. After falling 2-1 in the middle game, USC took the rubber game, 8-3 on Sunday afternoon. The pitching staff combined for a 1.86 ERA over the weekend. The Gamecocks are back in action this weekend against Radford.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team posted a pair of SEC wins over the past week, their first back-to-back wins in league play this season. The Gamecocks traveled to Florida and knocked off the 7th-ranked Gators, 71-67, behind the 17-point effort from Tre Kelley. Kelley led the way again with 22 points in an 83-61 rout of Mississippi State on Saturday. The Gamecocks defeated Alabama on Tuesday 67-56 on ESPN, then entertain Kentucky in a nationally-televised game on Saturday.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team split a pair of games over the past week, falling by four to Kentucky before blowing out Florida in Gainesville. Melanie Johnson enjoyed a career day, scoring 27 points with 10 rebounds in the win at Florida. Demetress Adams added 18 points and nine boards. The Gamecocks play at Auburn on Thursday before hosting Mississippi on Saturday.
Equestrian
The equestrian team dominated Auburn on Saturday, winning both the Hunt Seat and the Western competitions. It was their first sweep of the season. They have a pair of matches this weekend, hosting Baylor on Friday before traveling to Georgia on Saturday.
Football
The spring game will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.
Men’s Golf
The men’s golf team tied for third among 15 schools in its opening tournament of the season in Ponte Vedra, Fla. The Gamecocks shot the best final round score to finish just four strokes out of second and nine behind the winning UCLA squad. Individually, freshman Florian Fritsch was the top finisher, tying for sixth with a 223. Mark Anderson also logged a top 10 finish. They are in action this weekend at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville.
Women’s Golf
The Gamecock women’s golf team opens its spring slate at the Lady Puerto Rico in Rio Grande on February 24.
Women’s Soccer
Head coach Shelley Smith announced the signing of 10 players to national letters of intent during the February signing period. The list includes players from the states of South Carolina, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia.
Softball
The softball team finished second in the season-opening tournament at Florida Atlantic after winning three of five games. McKenna Hughes belted a solo homer in the 1-0 win over Pittsburgh. Christie Hamilton logged a career-high 12 strikeouts and recorded an RBI double in the win over host FAU. The Gamecocks’ home opener is set for Wednesday when they host Winthrop in a double-dip that starts at 3 p.m.
Swimming and Diving
The South Carolina swimming and diving teams are en route to Knoxville for the SEC Championships, which begin Wednesday.
Men’s Tennis
The 12th-ranked USC men’s tennis team ran its record to 6-0 before falling to No. 27 North Carolina on Monday. Carolina now turns its attention to the 2006 USTA/ITA National Team Indoors, in Seattle, February 17-20.
Women’s Tennis
The USC women’s tennis team had the week off to prepare for its next match, a date with Clemson at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 19.
Track and Field
The USC women’s track & field team is ranked third in the country this week after the hotly-contested Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. Shalonda Solomon set the school record in the 200-meter dash to win the event. She is the top ranked collegiate sprinter at 200 meters. Amberly Nesbitt had the top college time in the 60-meter dash. Cheryl Terrio set a school record in the pole vault. The USC men are ranked in a tie for 19th this week. The Gamecocks host the USC Invitational this weekend before heading to the SEC Championships in another week.
