Nov. 29, 2007

2008 Gamecock Softball Schedule

2008 Softball Schedule in PDF Format

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina softball squad will take on 18 teams that advanced into the 2007 NCAA Tournament, as head coach Joyce Compton released the schedule today. Thirteen home dates are a part of the schedule as well as match-ups against regional rivals Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina, Winthrop and Coastal Carolina.

“We made a very competitive schedule for us in preparation for the conference, which is one of the toughest around,” said Compton. “We’re challenging this team as they go against the best in the country during this crazy February we’ve put together. We’ll get an idea of what we have from the first tournament.

“The team is excited about our schedule, and that’s what makes it worthwhile. We’re excited about the competitiveness of our schedule. We’re going to get tested, and it will set the tone for our season.”

The Gamecocks open their season at the Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic, taking on North Florida in the lid-lifter on Feb. 8. Carolina also will face the host Owls, UMass and Michigan in Boca Raton. After the home opener against Western Carolina on Wed., Feb. 13, the squad heads to Las Vegas for their toughest tournament in program history. All five of South Carolina’s opponents at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic made the national championship draw last season. The highlights include the opening-day contest against 11-time national champ UCLA and games on Saturday, Feb. 16 against Oklahoma and Oregon. The meeting against the Ducks will be a rematch of the two finalists in last year’s Columbia regional, with the Gamecocks looking to extend their winning streak over the Ducks to three games.

Carolina heads south to face NCAA Tournament teams Georgia Tech, Hofstra and Wright State at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament in Tampa, Fla., over Feb. 22-24. The Gamecocks finally return home for the Carolina Classic, taking place March 1-2 at Beckham Field. Bucknell and Gardner-Webb will come in for the two-day event. The last tune-up for Southeastern Conference action is set for Tues., March 4, as the Garnet and Black travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the Tar Heels.

The 28-game SEC slate starts up on March 8 for the Gamecocks, as they host Arkansas in a three-game series. Carolina heads west to take on Georgia in a three-game set over March 15-16. Last year’s NCAA Women’s College World Series runner-up Tennessee comes to Columbia for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader on March 19. A week later, Carolina faces Florida in a pair of games on March 26 in Gainesville before heading to Lexington, Ky., for a three-game series against Kentucky to close out March.

South Carolina opens April on the road against defending Big South champion Winthrop for a single game at 7 p.m. in Rock Hill, S.C. The Gamecocks return to Beckham Field for a three-game showdown against Auburn, with Sunday’s contest being shown live on the SEC-TV regional package at 1 p.m. Carolina’s final non-conference affair is scheduled for April 9, as the Gamecocks take on the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina at 5 p.m. in Conway, S.C. Mississippi State comes to Columbia for a weekend series on April 12-13. A pair of road three-game SEC series follows, with the Garnet and Black taking on the Crimson Tide of Alabama and the Rebels of Mississippi on back-to-back weekends. The regular season wraps up on May 3-4 with a three-game set against the defending SEC Tournament and Western Division champ LSU.

This year’s SEC Tournament will be held in Baton Rouge, La., while the Women’s College World Series will take place once again in Oklahoma City.

In addition to the 18 tournament teams, six of USC’s opponents advanced into the super regional round, same as the Gamecocks a year ago.