Feb. 8, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – Gamecocks Open Season at FAU Miken Invitational
Gamecock softball opens the 2007 season on the road at the FAU Miken Invitational in Boca Raton, Fla. Feb. 9-11. Day one action will match the Gamecocks against Pittsburgh and North Florida. On day two, USC will play Miami (Ohio) and FAU and bracket play is set for Sunday. Central Florida is also in the tournament, however the Gamecocks are not scheduled to play the Golden Knights unless both teams advance to the championship game.
This marks the second consecutive season the Gamecocks have played at the FAU Tournament. Last year, USC opened its season in Boca Raton and went 3-2 at the tournament, including a loss to East Carolina in the championship game.
vs. Pittsburgh
This marks the fourth meeting between the Gamecocks and the Panthers. This also marks the first of two meetings this year. Pitt will come to Beckham Field in March as a part of a Southern tour for the Panthers.
USC is 3-0 against the Panthers including a 1-0 win last year at the FAU Tournament. The Gamecocks will be the first opponent of the 2007 season for the Panthers.
Pitt is coming off of a 32-27 2006 campaign and finished seventh in the Big East. They return seven position starters and two starting pitchers.
vs. North Florida
This will mark the first ever meeting against the Ospreys for the Gamecocks. North Florida joined the D-I ranks in 2006 and enter the season with a 67-41 overall record. UNF is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference and have been picked to finish fifth in the conference this season. Kelli Rutenbar and Ashley Parenteau are Preseason All-Atlantic Sun selections.
UNF is coming off of a 28-29 season and tied for sixth in the Atlantic Sun. They return five starters and two starting pitchers.
vs. Miami (Ohio)
The Gamecocks are 5-0 all-time against the Redhawks, however, all but one of those meetings was prior to 1986. Under Coach Compton, South Carolina has played Miami once and is 1-0. This will mark only the second meeting against Miami for Coach Compton. USC last played Miami in 1994 at the South Florida Invitational and won 5-3.
Miami posted a 21-34 record last year and have a new coach in Kelly Kovach Schoenly. The Redhawks return nine starters.
vs. FAU The Gamecocks are 4-1 all-time against the Owls. USC won the last meeting when the Gamecocks defeated FAU 2-1 last year at the FAU Tournament. FAU’s lone victory over the Gamecocks came in 2002 at the Seminole Challenge. The Owls won 1-0.
FAU is not ranked but did receive votes in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll.
The Owls are coming off of a 35-25 season and went 15-5 in the Atlantic Sun. FAU also advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year and fell to South Florida in the Regional Final.
Gamecock Ties
Pittsburgh has two Gamecock ties on its coaching staff. Head coach Michelle Phalen played for Coach Compton at Missouri and served as as assistant coach for the Gamecocks during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Panther assistant coach Holly Aprile also served as an assistant for the Gamecocks under Compton from 1995-2003.
Hughes Aims for Home Run Leader
With 22 career home runs, senior McKenna Hughes is just three shy of becoming South Carolina’s all-time leader. The current record is 24, held by Joyce McMillin (1998-2001).
Hughes ended her 2006 campaign with seven which also led the team.
Season Openers
Under Joyce Compton, South Carolina boasts a 19-2 record in season openers. The Gamecocks’ two losses came in 1995 and in 2000. USC lost 3-2 to Furman in `95 and 4-3 to Texas A&M in `00.
Non-conference Play
Since joining the SEC, South Carolina boasts a 245-95-2 record in non-conference action. Last year, USC went 20-9, marking its eighth year to have at least 20 or more non-conference wins. In 2004 and 2005, the Gameoccks did not reach the 20-win mark. USC has recorded 30-plus win non-conference seasons three times: 1997 (38), 1999 (32) and 2000 (30).
Fresh Start
With six new freshmen on the roster, the Gamecocks could possibly have all six on the field at one time. If junior college transfer Melissa Hendon plays a position in the field, USC could see all seven newcomers on the field at one time.
Three’s Company
Freshmen Adele Voigt, Anna Johnson and Krystle Robinson are no strangers to each other. The trio all played on the same travel ball team, Georgia Elite Gold. The team advanced to nationals in 2005 and 2006.
Junior Mint
Junior pitcher Kate Pouliot turned her game around as a sophomore. She went from a 4.92 ERA as a freshman to a 2.24 ERA as a sophomore, lowering her ERA by 2.6 runs per game. As the only returning pitcher for the Gamecocks this season, she will be expected to play a leadership role on the staff.
Longo Moves Again
For the third season in a row, junior Lisa Longo will start at a different position. As a freshman, Longo she played shortstop, then moved to the outfield as a sophomore. This year, she will start off at third base for the Gamecocks. She has played and started in 57 games during her career.
Young Runs
For the last two years, a freshman has led the Gamecocks in runs scored. In 2006, Ashton Payne finished with 29, while in 2005, Jessica Josker led with 30.
Schoonmaker Out for Season
Senior Chrissy Schoonmaker will miss the 2007 season due to a car accident she suffered in the fall. In November, Schoonmaker broke her neck, but was fortunately not paralyzed.
She will continue to travel with the team and will now help out in a different role as team motivator. Schoonmaker’s playing future will be determined later in the season.
SEC Coaches Pick Gamecocks Fourth in East
The SEC Coaches picked the Gamecocks to finish fourth in the East, behind Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Kentucky is predicted to finish fifth.
Last year, USC finished fourth in the East but ninth overall in the conference with an 8-21 record.
Tennessee is predicted to win the Conference title.
Compton Reaches 25th Season as D-I Coach
This season marks Joyce Compton’s 25th as a Division I head coach. Joyce has compiled a 975-447-3 record and is 25 victories shy of her 1,000th. She enters her 21st year at South Carolina and has a 860-370-3 record at USC.
