Feb. 21, 2008

Tournament Notes in PDF Format

USF Louisville Slugger Tournament Central

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

Carolina Readies For Challenges Awaiting In Tampa
After a 3-3 week, South Carolina’s softball team looks to turn the corner this weekend at the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament. The competition will still be top-notch, however, as two NCAA Tournament teams and a seemingly resurgent Bulls’ squad, who defeated Tennessee last weekend, await the Gamecocks at the USF Softball Field in Tampa, Fla.

Carolina has played in numerous tournaments in the Tampa Bay area. Overall, the program holds an 87-22 record in games played in Clearwater, Plant City and Tampa, dating back to head coach Joyce Compton’s first year in Columbia. However, it’s the squad’s first trip down since the 2003 season, when they made two trips to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. The first was for a midseason tournament where they went 4-1 before the only SEC Tournament held in Plant City, which saw the Gamecocks eliminated in three games.

Gamecocks All-Time vs. This Weekend’s Opponents
If previous results are a predictor, this could be a great weekend for South Carolina softball. The Gamecocks own a combined 51-7 record over the five opponents scheduled for the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament.

South Carolina has dominated the series against Georgia Tech, going 21-0 lifetime against the Yellow Jackets. Four of those Gamecock wins came on neutral sites, including a 2-0 victory on Feb. 26, 2005.

The Gamecocks and Badgers have met just once, and Carolina run-ruled Wisconsin then, 9-0, in the 2005 Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Carolina has taken all seven games from Hofstra, with every meeting coming at a neutral site. The last was a 5-2 Gamecock win in Tampa.

The Bulls of the University of South Florida have had limited success against South Carolina, with the Gamecocks leading the series, 20-7. Carolina holds a 10-3 advantage in meetings in Tampa.

Wright State has never defeated South Carolina in three meetings. The last of those came back in Compton’s eighth season, as the Gamecocks won, 8-0, on March 26, 1994.

Carolina In The Month of February
In the Joyce Compton era, Carolina is 175-66-2 during the second month of the year. Last season, the Gamecocks went 15-2 during the opening month of the softball season. On Feb. 22, Carolina has a nearly-perfect 13-1 mark. Carolina is 9-3 on Feb. 23 during the Compton era. The 24th of February has seen the Gamecocks go a flawless 12-0.

Payne Comes Around In Vegas
Maybe a day off is what junior Ashton Payne needed. After not starting against Western Carolina, Payne has gone on a tear. A pinch-hit single against the Catamounts started a six-game hitting streak for the Richmond, Va., native that carried her through the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. What was most encouraging was her first two extra-base hits of the season, a triple against No. 10/6 UCLA and a double in the win over Cal State Northridge. Going into the weekend, Payne leads the squad with a .382 batting average, a .417 on-base percentage and a .471 slugging percentage.

Schoonmaker Back And Ready to Contribute After Life-Threatening Injury
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, senior Chrissy Schoonmaker had a halo on her upper body to support her neck that had been broken in three places. Last Friday, Schoonmaker finally took the field to start 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, has been penciled into the line-up for seven games and pinch run in another so far in 2008.

Longo Stepping Up Early During Senior Campaign
Senior Lisa Longo has been a catalyst in the early going for South Carolina. The Valley Stream, N.Y., native might only be hitting .176, but most of her six hits have been big ones. Four have been for two bases, including a bases-loaded double that gave Carolina the 3-1 win over North Florida in the season opener. She also sparked the two-run third against Western Carolina with her lead-off double. She now has 21 career doubles.

Pair of Freshmen Doing Their Job at the Plate
Rookies Jill Semento and Laura Mendes have started their Carolina careers on the right foot. Going into the weekend, the freshmen from Florida are among the team leaders in hitting. Semento’s .333 average ranks second on the squad among players with 15 or more at bats. However, Mendes has been slightly more productive, scoring four runs while hitting two doubles, a home run and adding six RBI. Those six RBI tie for first on the team with Lisa Longo. Three of those runs batted in came on a three-run blast against Cal State Northridge to lead the way against the Matadors in Carolina’s 3-2 victory.

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 noticable 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.

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.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Georgia Tech – Feb. 26, 2005
McKenna Hughes was the hero for the Gamecocks as her walk-off home run in the 10th gave Carolina a 2-0 win over No. 13/15 Georgia Tech at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The hit was the only one of the game for the Gamecocks.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Wisconsin – Feb. 13, 2005
South Carolina defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 9-0, in six innings at the Kajikawa Tournament at Arizona State. Carolina recorded its fourth game of the year where they registered more than 10 hits, as they posted 12 against the Badgers. Jessica Josker went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Ashley Smith, Lisa Longo and Chrissy Schoonmaker each drove in three runs.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Hofstra – Feb. 16, 2001
The Gamecocks downed the Pride of Hofstra, 6-2, at the USF Softball Complex. Designated player Joyce McMillin and Samatha Jennings both went 3-for-3 in the the victory.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. USF – Feb. 17, 2001
Megan Matthews shut out the Bulls in a 7-0 victory during the Holiday Inn Invitational in Tampa, Fla.

The Last Time – South Carolina vs. Wright State – March 26, 1994
No box score or story could be located from this game.