March 2, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – After getting just two games in during the NFCA Leadoff Classic, the South Carolina Gamecocks play one more non-conference game to tune up for the Southeastern Conference slate. The opposition will be North Carolina, who has gone 14-3 in the early going of 2009. First pitch at Anderson Stadium is set for 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
South Carolina Splits its Games in Rain-Shortened NFCA Leadoff Classic
Once again, things were altered for all teams scheduled to compete in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, but it was more than just rain that altered the 2009 version. Snow wiped out the reworked Sunday schedule as well. The Gamecocks were among a handful of the 21 teams that got in at least two games during the tournament. South Carolina split its Friday outings, downing defending Conference USA champ Houston, 2-1, before falling to Illinois State, 7-0.
Carolina in the Month of March Under Joyce Compton
In the Joyce Compton era, Carolina is 458-143 (.762) during the third month of the year. In 2008, South Carolina owned a 9-7 mark in March.
Now There’s Some Competition
South Carolina has seen some top competition from around the country and had even more rained out in Columbus, Ga. This week, the squad faces the favorites in both the SEC and the ACC. North Carolina, Wednesday’s scheduled opponent, was picked to win the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference title.
Gamecocks All-Time vs. North Carolina
For the 59th time, the Gamecocks and Tar Heels are set to exchange pleasantries and battle on the field. South Carolina has won 47 of the previous 58 meetings, including 16 of the 23 in Chapel Hill. North Carolina, however, took the last meeting, 1-0, on April 18, 2007. The two squads were rained out of last year’s scheduled meeting.
Scouting the North Carolina Tar Heels
Ranked 16th in last week’s polls before canceling a trip to Knoxville for the Tennessee Classic, North Carolina has a 14-3 record on the season. Two of those losses came by one run each in the opening weekend, while the last came against top-15 Fresno State. The Tar Heels are led by dual threat Danielle Spaulding. She has a .400 batting average, .533 on-base percentage and .622 slugging percentage, all tops on the team. She also has a 6-1 record in the circle, compiling a 0.38 ERA during 47 innings of work. She’s fanned over two batters per frame while walking one around every three. The junior from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., also leads the Blue and White with 15 runs batted in. Christine Knauer and Breanna Brown have been circling the bases often, both leading the team with 13 runs scored. Brown also has 13 RBI to her credit.
As a team, North Carolina hits .281, while they get on base at a .374 clip. they have run a good bit, stealing 22 bases in 25 tries. Knauer leads the charge there with 12 stolen bases on the year. Defensively, the Tar Heels have committed just 11 errors in 17 games.
The Last Time – South Carolina vs. North Carolina – April 18, 2007
It was a matter of stranding base runners that cost the Gamecocks as they fell, 1-0, to the 22nd-ranked North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. Breanna Brown drove in Christine Knauer for the winning run in the sixth inning to propel the Tar Heels to victory. South Carolina posted five hits to the Tar Heels’ two, but the Gamecocks left nine runners on base and were unable to drive in a run.
