Feb. 20, 2006
USC Athletics Weekly Update in PDF
Baseball
The baseball squad swept a three-game series from Radford over the weekend, holding the Highlanders to just two runs in three games. Robbie Grinestaff homered twice and drove in fi ve in the opener, while four pitchers combined on a one-hitter in the 7-0 victory. Wynn Pelzer fanned eight in 4.2 innings in game two in a 5-2 Gamecock win. Forrest Beverly posted his second win of the season with six shutout innings in the series fi nale, a 2-0 whitewash. The Gamecocks host Duquense this weekend in another three-game set.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team split a pair of SEC home games over the last week. Renaldo Balkman scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Gamecocks to a 67-56 win over Alabama. USC had its three-game winning streak snapped by Kentucky on Saturday in a 13-point setback. Carolina needs three wins in its last four regular season games to fi nish the SEC campaign with a .500 record. They look to get back on the right track at Georgia on Thursday (ESPN), then host Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team continues its push for an NCAA Tournament berth with a pair of wins, posting SEC victories at Auburn and over Mississippi. The win at Auburn was the squad’s fourth straight road victory. Melanie Johnson scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win over Ole Miss. Winners of fi ve of their last six games, the Gamecocks have evened their conference slate at 6-6. The regular season comes to an end this week with USC hosting Longwood on Tuesday, Mississippi State on Thursday and playing at Vanderbilt on Sunday.
Equestrian
The equestrian team has a pair of matches this weekend, hosting Baylor on Friday before traveling to Georgia on Saturday.
Men’s Golf
The 16th-ranked men’s golf team tied for eighth among 14 schools at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville. Senior Eirik Johansen turned in the best individual effort, fi nishing in a tie for 11th place. Their next competition is the Schenkel E-Z Go Invitational at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Ga.
Women’s Golf
The Gamecock women’s golf team opens its spring slate at the Lady Puerto Rico in Rio Grande on February 24.
Softball
The softball team won four of six games over the past week, sweeping a pair from Winthrop before splitting two games each with Iowa State and with Florida State at the FSU Tournament. Lisa Longo is leading the team in hitting with a .464 average. Christie Hamilton has posted four of the seven wins and has registered 40 strikeouts in 35.2 innings of work. The Gamecocks play at Charlotte on Wednesday then host the USC Tournament this weekend. North Carolina State, Fordham and Georgia Southern will provide the competition.
Swimming and Diving
The South Carolina women’s swimming and diving team finished sixth while the men’s team was eighth at the SEC Championships in Knoxville over the weekend. The highlight for the Gamecocks was the performance of Allison Brennan in the diving competition. Brennan captured the gold medal in both the one-meter and three-meter boards.
Men’s Tennis
The 10th-ranked USC men’s tennis team had a tough weekend at the ITA Team Indoors in Seattle, falling to Ole Miss, Florida State and Penn. The Gamecocks were not at full strength, as two of their key players were hampered by injuries. They return to action this week with home matches against Charleston Southern on Thursday and North Carolina State on Saturday.
Women’s Tennis
The 26th-ranked USC women’s tennis team knocked off No. 27 Clemson, 4-3, on Sunday to run its record to 5-1. It snapped a four-match winless stretch against the Tigers. USC’s next matches are in the Northeast when they travel to face Brown and Harvard over the weekend.
Track and Field
The USC track & field team hosted the Gamecock Indoor Open on Saturday in its final tune-up prior to the SEC Championships, which are set for next weekend in Gainesville, Fla. Shalonda Solomon, who owns the fastest time in the nation this year at 200 meters, had an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the short sprint, winning the 55-meter dash in 6.73 seconds. The USC women dominated the 55-meter hurdle competition, taking the top four spots. Ronetta Alexander led the way with a 7.62 clocking in the fi nals, just off an NCAA automatic mark. Keke Clarke was second with an NCAA provisional time of 7.80 seconds. Cheryl Terrio continued to impress in the pole vault, clearing 4.00 meters a week after setting the school record with a jump of 4.12 meters. The Gamecocks also got wins from Sharee Howze in the 400-meter dash (1:01.14), Monica Bozenski in the high jump (1.67m), Precious Akins in the weight throw (18.07m) and the women’s 4×400 meter relay squad (4:12.86).
