Feb. 7, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

Carolina Softball Lifts Lid At 2008 Florida Atlantic Kick-Off Classic
A season after advancing to the program’s first NCAA Super Regional, the South Carolina Gamecocks have high hopes for 2008. They would love to get off to the same start as they did a year ago as they return to Boca Raton to begin the season. But the road will be tougher for the Garnet and Black, as a ranked opponent and two defending conference champions lie ahead this weekend at the FAU Kick-Off Classic. Carolina officially opens play on Friday against North Florida before taking on the host and defending Sun Belt Tournament champ Florida Atlantic Owls. On Saturday, the Gamecocks face the Atlantic-10 champ Massachusetts and No. 12 Michigan. Sunday is finals day at FAU Softball Stadium, with the top seed facing the second seed at 1 p.m., the third and fourth seeds squaring off at 11 a.m., and the No. 5 and No. 6 teams taking the field at 9 a.m.

Last season, Carolina ran off five consecutive victories to take the FAU Miken Tournament to start the campaign. The Gamecocks downed Pittsburgh, UNF, Miami (Ohio), and Florida Atlantic twice to claim the crown. All-time, South Carolina is 8-2 at the FAU Softball Stadium, going 3-2 in the Worth Invitational there in 2006.

Gamecocks All-Time vs. This Weekend’s Opponents
Carolina has a history against all four of the scheduled opponents this weekend at Florida Atlantic. The only meeting against North Florida came last year, when USC defeated UNF, 4-0.

Against the host Owls, the Gamecocks hold a 6-1 record. The lone loss came on Feb. 9, 2002, at the Seminole Challenge. FAU won that day, 1-0. Carolina has outscored Florida Atlantic, 41-9, all-time.

Versus the Minutewomen, South Carolina is 9-1-1. Since Joyce Compton’s arrival, the Gamecocks are 4-0 against UMass, with a pair of victories coming in NCAA Regional action (1995 & 2000) and the other two coming in NFCA Leadoff Classics (1997 & 2005).

When taking on the Big Blue, Carolina has taken seven of the 13 games. The squads have split the four meetings in the state of Florida. USC won in 1997 and 2000 in Tampa, while Michigan took victories in 1999 in Tampa and 2002 in Plant City. On neutral sites, Carolina is 4-4 against the Wolverines.

South Carolina Picked to Finish Fourth in SEC East
Despite returning nearly every starter from last season’s NCAA Regional championship squad, the Southeastern Conference coaches picked the Gamecocks to finish fourth in the five-team SEC East in their preseason poll. Florida was chosen to win the East, while Tennessee was picked second. Georgia was selected third, while Kentucky came in fifth. Alabama was the coaches’ choice to win the SEC West and the overall crown.

Gamecocks Very Experienced Going Into 2008
With a veteran-laden roster returning for the Gamecocks, there is some wonder as to why they were picked so low in the SEC coaches’ poll. Eight position players and the entire pitching staff from a year ago are back for head coach Joyce Compton from last year’s NCAA Super Regional club.
In terms of the offense back, Carolina returns 81 percent of its hits, 76 percent of its runs, 72 percent of its doubles, 71 percent of its runs batted in, 81 percent of its stolen bases and 69 percent of its walks. The only category that the Garnet and Black have a noticeable hole to make up is in home runs, where only 48 percent are back. Of course, the 11 long balls hit last year by McKenna Hughes was a program record for one season.

Schoonmaker Back And Ready to Contribute After Life-Threatening Injury
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, senior Chrissy Schoonmaker accompanied the team to Boca Raton, Fla., with a halo on her upper body to support her neck that had been broken in three places. On Friday, Schoonmaker looks to finally take the field for her senior season. The Sebastian, Fla., native has made an amazing recovery from the injury suffered in an accident during her trip back to Columbia, S.C., from Thanksgiving break. The redshirt senior co-captain, who has started at numerous positions for the Gamecocks during her career, could see time at first, second and third base as well as in the outfield during the coming season.

Carolina In The Month of February
Since the Southeastern Conference began its sponsorship of softball, Carolina is 110-48-1 during the second month of the year. Last year, the Gamecocks went 15-2 during the opening month of the year. On Feb. 8, the Garnet and Black hold a 7-0 record. They are 5-3 on Feb. 9 and 5-2 on Feb. 10.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. North Florida – Feb. 9, 2007 In Boca Raton, the Gamecocks downed the Ospreys, 4-0, in UNF’s second season in NCAA Division I. McKenna Hughes did most of the damage with a two-run home run in the first inning. Melissa Hendon and Jessica Josker both added doubles, while Lindsay Walker hit her first career home run during the contest. Kate Pouliot scattered six hits over seven innings to lead Carolina to the win.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic – Feb. 11, 2007
Carolina defeated the Owls for the second consecutive day to capture the 2007 FAU Miken Tournament title. In the championship game, the Gamecocks won a 3-1 decision, giving Krystle Robinson her first career victory. Ashton Payne scored the go-ahead run in the third on a wild pitch.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. UMass – Feb. 26, 2005
Lisa Longo led the Gamecocks to a 6-1 victory over the Minutewomen in the 2005 NFCA Leadoff Classic Silver Bracket semifinals. Longo, a freshman, went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored in the contest.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Michigan – Feb. 25, 2005
Michigan took a 9-3 victory over the Garnet and Black in pool play during the 2005 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Jessica Josker and Lisa Longo both went 2-for-3, with Josker scoring two runs and Longo driving in a pair during the contest. Kate Pouliot took the loss, the second of her career, against the No. 8-ranked Wolverines.