Feb. 23, 2007

Columbia, S.C. –
South Carolina softball returns to action this weekend as they host the 2007 Gamecock Invitational at Beckham Field Feb. 24-25. Eight games are lined up as Carolina (10-2) welcomes the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5-2), the Radford Highlanders (2-8), and the East Tennessee State Buccaneers (3-4).

Action begins Saturday with four games. The tournament kicks off at 10 a.m. as Jacksonville State faces Radford. Next, the Gamecocks face Jacksonville State at Noon, followed by South Carolina and ETSU at 2 p.m. Saturday finishes off with Radford and ETSU at 4 p.m.

On Sunday, ETSU and Jacksonville State meet at 9 a.m. SC will play Radford at 11a.m. On Sunday, the championship game of the No.1 vs. No. 2 seeds is set for 3 p.m. preceded by the No. 3 vs. No. 4 seeds at 1 p.m.

South Carolina is coming off of a doubleheader sweep against the College of Charleston earlier in the week.

Overall, the Gamecocks are 4-1 against their tournament foes with their only loss coming against Jacksonville State back in 2002.

Daniela Pappano is batting .538 and leads Jacksonville State who fell to UAB 2-1 in an extra inning loss on Tuesday. She also earned player of the week honors in the Ohio Valley Conference for her role in Jacksonville State’s three wins last week.

Radford fell 9-2 to Michigan State in the consolation game of the Bama Bash on Sunday, marking their fifth consecutive loss for the Highlanders.

Three ninth inning runs led East Tennessee State to a 7-4 win against Florida A&M in the Buzz Classic last week. Sophomore Mary Catherine Vercoe leads the Buccaneers in hitting with a .300 average.

All games can be followed live on Gametracker or via audio internet broadcast at www.uscsports.com.