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April 13, 2006
Columbia, S.C. – Seventh ranked South Carolina (27-7, 9-3 SEC) looks to snap a three-game losing streak on Friday night as the Gamecocks host Ole Miss (20-13, 6-6 SEC) in a three-game SEC series. First pitch on Friday is set for 7 pm. Saturday’s game will be televised on SEC-TV/FSN South and is scheduled for 4 pm. The Sunday series finale is a 1:30 pm start. All three games are also available on the Gamecock Radio Network and at uscsports.com.
Ole Miss took two of three games from the Gamecocks last year in Oxford. USC won the opener with a 2-0 victory behind a complete game shutout performance by senior right-hander Aaron Rawl. Carolina leads the all-time series history 20-12 and won two of three games against the Rebels, in 2004, the last time both teams met at Sarge Frye Field in Columbia.
WEEKEND ROTATION
Friday
South Carolina: Mike Cisco, RHP, Fr. (4-0, 3.11 ERA, 37.2 IP, 31 K, 9 BB)
Ole Miss: Craig Rodriguez, LHP, Jr. (1-0, 3.97 ERA, 29 K, 8 BB)
Saturday
South Carolina: Forrest Beverly, LHP, Jr. (5-2, 5.28 ERA, 44.1 IP, 43 K, 11 BB)
Ole Miss: Brett Bukvich, LHP, Fr. (3-3, 2.85 ERA, 41 IP, 34 K, 11 BB)
Sunday
South Carolina: Dan Luczak, RHP, So. (2-0, 2.03 ERA, 13.1 IP, 13 K, 8 BB)
or
Harris Honeycutt, RHP, So. (3-0, 1.64 ERA, 22 IP, 27 K, 10 BB)
Ole Miss: Lance Lynn, RHP, Fr. (3-2, 4.24 ERA, 40.1 IP, 37 K, 21 BB)
SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE RANKINGS
South Carolina sits at No. 7 in three of the four major collegiate baseball rankings. Baseball America, Sports Weekly and NCBWA all have the Gamecocks seventh with USC also selected No. 9 in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30.
TOM PRICE AWARD
South Carolina third baseman Neil Giesler was the 2006 recipient of the Tom Price Award, presented to the South Carolina team MVP of the USC-Clemson series. The Bob Bradley Award, for the Clemson MVP, was presented to Tigers pitcher Daniel Moskos. Both Price and Bob Bradley served as sports information directors at their respective schools and were instrumental in the promotion of college baseball.
Bradley served as Clemson baseball SID for 45 years and was Clemson’s official scorer up through most of the 2000 season. Bradley passed away on October 30, 2000. Tom Price continues to serve in an emeritus role at the University of South Carolina and as official scorer at all Carolina home games. Last year’s Tom Price award winner was first baseman Steve Pearce.
FLASHING THE GLOVE
The Gamecocks have an incredible streak of 11 games without committing an error in the field. South Carolina leads the SEC with a .987 fielding percentage and only 16 errors committed in 34 games. The team has played 22 of 34 games without an error on the year.
THE BOSS – PELZER
When James Brown’s song “The Boss” hits the speakers at Sarge Frye Field, it means only one thing, sophomore RHP Wynn Pelzer is entering the game. Pelzer has been outstanding this year for Carolina with a 3-0 record and 33 strikeouts with just four runs and 10 hits allowed in 27.1 innings pitched. In four SEC appearances this year, Pelzer owns a 3-0 record with one save; he has allowed just two hits in 14 innings pitched and struck out 17 batters.
Pelzer was outstanding in relief to pick up the win in Friday’s game against Alabama. Pelzer pitched three shutout innings and allowed no hits and just one walk while striking out three batters.
HAVENS HITTING HIS STRIDE
Freshman shortstop Reese Havens has been productive at the plate as of late batting 8-for-13 (.615) over the last four games between Alabama and Clemson. Havens had three hits including a game-winning RBI double in Friday’s 12-inning contest against the Crimson Tide and was 3-for-4 on Wednesday night at Clemson.
Havens’ average has jumped to .311 (37-for-119) and he leads the team in doubles with 10 on the year. He has also scored 24 runs on the year.
THE CISCO KID
Freshman RHP Mike Cisco became the first freshman Carolina pitcher since Kip Bouknight (1998) to start a Friday night SEC game last Friday against Alabama (April 7). Cisco worked 4.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits to earn a no-decision.
Cisco is 4-0 with a 3.11 ERA on the year in 37.2 innings pitched, the second highest total on the team. Three of Cisco’s four wins have come against SEC opponents. He has 31 strikeouts and nine walks on the year.
TRACKING CAMPBELL
Senior OF Michael Campbell increased his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games before seeing it end in the second game of the doubleheader vs. Alabama. He has now played 234 career games with the Gamecocks and is just two games shy of Mac White (1991-94) for second place on the USC Career List. His five at-bats at Clemson on Wednesday night moved him past Landon Powell (2001-04) into second place on the USC All-Time list with 870 in his career.
Campbell is at .295 (38-for-128) with two HR and 30 RBI including six doubles and two triples this year. Dating back to his freshman season, he has made 213 consecutive starts in the outfield.
In addition, his assist from the outfield in the win over Clemson set a new Carolina school record for assists by an outfielder with 21 in his career. Campbell bests the previous record of 20 set by Paul Hollins (1978-81). Campbell has two assists from the outfield this year.
Campbell is the most experienced player in Division I baseball with 234 games under his belt as well as 227 starts. Campbell is the leading returner for Carolina in several offensive categories including batting average (.315), games played (64), at-bats (251), runs (56), hits (79), doubles (16), triples (5), home runs (8), runs batted in (42), slugging percentage (.514), hit by pitch (10) and stolen bases (8).
TRACKING Michael CampbellGames Played1. 251 Landon Powell 2001-02-03-042. 236 Mac White 1991-92-93-943. 234 Michael Campbell 2003-04-05-06
At Bats1. 903 Mac White 1991-92-93-942. 870 Michael Campbell 2003-04-05-06
Hits (200 or more)1. 303 Mac White 1991-92-93-942. 285 Drew Meyer 2000-01-023. 265 Landon Powell 2001-02-03-044. 265 Derick Urquhart 1995-96-97-985. 261 Michael Campbell 2003-04-05-06
One Base Hits1. 209 Drew Meyer 2000-01-022. 198 Mac White 1991-92-93-943. 174 Michael Campbell 2003-04-05-06
Three Base Hits1. 12 Michael Campbell 2003-04-05-061. 12 Mac White 1991-92-93-941. 12 Bill Harley 1930-31-32
JUMPING OUT OF THE GATE
South Carolina won the team’s first three SEC series and are off to a 9-3 start in conference play, the best start since the 2000 season. Winning the first three series (Auburn, Florida, LSU) also marked the first time since 2002 that the Gamecocks had won the first three SEC series played in conference play. The Gamecocks were SEC champions in the 2002 season.
