April 23, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Gamecock softball team will close out the Eastern division portion of its schedule this week when they host the 22nd-ranked Florida Gators in a Tuesday doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Beckham Field. The doubleheader will be broadcast live on Cox Sports TV, which airs in Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas.

This marks the last eastern division series for the Gamecocks this season as sole possession of second-place in the division is at stake. Florida has a slight lead in the series over the Gamecocks, 20-19, and has a 10-game win streak over South Carolina. The last Gamecock victory against the Gators came in 2003. That also marked the last three-game sweep and series win over the Gators for South Carolina.

The 22nd-ranked Florida Gators enter the contest 37-18 and 10-10 in the SEC. The Gators took a break from SEC action this past weekend and eclipsed a three-game sweep over Longwood. In Florida’s last SEC match-up, the Gators won its series 2-1 against the Auburn Tigers. The Gators are led by Kim Waleszonia with 65 hits, 38 runs and a .357 batting average. Ranked sixth in the conference in hits, she also leads the team in stolen bases with 18 and has started all 55 games for UF. Ali Gardner leads the team in RBI with 31. Stacey Nelson posts a 23-11 record with a 0.98 ERA, the fourth best in the SEC and fifth in the league in strikeouts with 206. As a team, Florida is hitting .250 and their opponents are batting .213, while the team ERA is 1.51 to their opponents’ 3.02.

South Carolina went 3-1 last week and fell to No. 22 North Carolina, but took a three-game sweep over Kentucky. With the wins, the Gamecocks improved to 10-10 in the league and recorded their 30th win of the season. Jessica Josker went 6-for-12 at the plate, including two doubles, a home run and a triple. Melissa Hendon went 2-0 and Kate Pouliot picked up her first win since Winthrop on March 27. Melissa Hendon recorded 13 strikeouts against UK in game one, her first 10-plus K outing since March 7 against Coastal. McKenna Hughes contiues to lead the Gamecocks overall with her .324 average and 35 RBI. Hendon is 16-11 with a 1.32 ERA and 204 strikeouts, enough for sixth best in the league.

As a team, the Gamecocks are hitting .251 and holding their opponents to .184 and in the circle, have a 1.40 ERA to their opponents’ 2.26 ERA.

The doubleheader games can be followed live via audio broadcast or Gametracker online at www.uscsports.com.