Gamecocks Go Back to Florida for UCF Tourney

Feb. 14, 2013

Opening Weekend Notes

South Carolina scored 52 runs on the opening weekend of 2013, picking up two run-rule victories while scoring double-figures in all four games.
It ranks as the first time the Gamecocks have scored double-figure runs in four-consecutive games in the NCAA era (since 1982).
The only other time in the NCAA era that the Gamecocks scored double figures in three-straight games was 1995 (10 at Virginia, 11 vs. George Mason and 11 vs. USF).
Twice have the Gamecocks scored more than 52 runs in four-straight games: 1988 (55 vs. North Carolina, Georgia Southern twice and McNeese State) and 1996 (62 vs. Coppin State and Virginia twice each).
The 15 runs in the lidlifter against Stetson is the most in the program’s NCAA era.
The two run-rule wins to start the year matches the 1993, 1996 and 2004 squads.
On three occasions, Gamecock student-athletes tied the school record in runs scored. Twice, Samie Garcia accomplished the feat on Feb. 9, while Alaynie Page did it as well in the second game (vs. Stetson, Feb. 9).
Samie Garcia reached base in each of her first 10 plate appearances.

Tracking Garcia

Samie Garcia enters 2013 on many top 15 career lists at South Carolina, and her performance at the Stetson Lead-Off Classic helped her leap up the charts.
She’s third in batting average (.361), third in on-base percentage (.433) and fifth in slugging percentage (.528).
Garcia also stands fourth in hit-by-pitches (14) and tied for 18th in both triples (6) and homers (10).
In the per-game categories, she’s fourth in runs (0.73), second in hits (1.17), 11th in doubles (0.17) and fifth in home runs (0.09).
Her four stolen bases in the Stetson Lead-Off Classic moved her into 10th all-time with 30 career steals.

Schedule Notes

South Carolina opens the 2013 season with 22 scheduled road games (five weekends) due to ongoing construction at the new Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.
The 1997 team spent 23 of its first 26 games away from home in the most similar stretch in the Gamecocks’ SEC-era history.
The 1988 squad played its first 31 games away from Columbia (six weeks on the road), while the 1987 team spent its first 20 games traveling (10 days).
The Gamecocks have 31 of their 53 scheduled games against teams who made the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Saturday’s game at UCF will be the first time the Gamecocks face a team that played in last year’s tourney.
All 24 SEC games are against NCAA tourney participants.
Four of South Carolina’s SEC games will be on television, including one on national outlet ESPNU.

Roster Notes

South Carolina returns four position starters from last year’s team, including 40 starts in right field (Chelsea Hawkins), 44 at catcher (Shelby Gonzales) and 54 at both shortstop (Samie Garcia) and second base (Dana Hathorn).
The Gamecocks’ 2012 leaders in batting average, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, slugging percentage, walks and stolen bases graduated.
Eighty-two percent of the team’s sacrifice hits departed, the highest of any offensive category. The next highest percentage is stolen bases (71%).
Despite losing doubles leader Kaitlin Westfall and single-season home run record-tying holder Evan Childs, the Gamecocks have 51 percent of its doubles and 52 percent of its homers back in 2013.
With the 11 departed players, the Gamecocks also lost players who took 41 of their 65 pinch-hitting appearances and the top four pinch runners.
Back is the 2012 team leader in runs scored (Samie Garcia, 41), who also tied for the team lead in stolen bases.
The team returns over two-thirds of the innings thrown in 2012, including ERA leader Audrey Broyles and strikeout leader Katelynn Howser.
Coming back from season-long injuries last year are redshirt senior Kelley Dillon and redshirt sophomore Julie Sarratt.
Nine newcomers join the roster, including six freshmen, a sophomore transfer and two junior-college transfers.
The team is again dominated by South Carolina natives, with 40 percent of the roster hailing from the Palmetto State.

Family Ties

The Masters sisters Ashlyn and Lauren are the first siblings to play on the same Gamecock team and the second set ever, after the Troesh sisters, Leanna (1997-99) and Debralee (2000-03).
Junior Chelsea Hawkins is the niece of Tia Rogers (2002-04 letter-winner).

Scouting Florida A&M

The Rattlers went 0-4 in its opening weekend of play, falling twice each to Jacksonville and North Florida.
Senior Ashanti Shepherd went 4-for-9 on the opening weekend, while senior Robbielyn Roberson went 2-for-6.
The rest of the Rattlers went 5-for-75 (.067) at the plate.
All three of Florida A&M’s runs were unearned during the opening weekend.
Senior Jennifer Lindsey tossed 15.1 innings in three appearances on the weekend, walking nine and striking out five, posting a 4.70 ERA.

Scouting Stetson

The Hatters return six starters from last year’s 26-22 team that finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun.
The entire pitching staff returns, the strength of last year’s Hatter team, posting a 2.28 ERA.
Two-way players Courtney Brandt and Meredith Owen lead the returners.
Brandt hit eight homers and drove in 27 runs while posting a 2.20 ERA in 130.2 innings.
Owen struck out 143 batters in 187.1 innings of work, adding a team-best .311 batting average with 10 doubles and six homers.
In 2013, Demi Meza leads the way with three homers, six RBI and a .500 batting average.
Brittany Hawn stole three bases.
Owen went 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA in 11.1 innings of work, striking out seven without walking anyone.
Two Hatter freshmen, Molly Shasteen and Morgan Hatch, hail from the same high school as Gamecock junior Dana Hathorn, Timber Creek in Orlando.

Scouting UCF

Five starters and two pitchers return from last year’s Knights team that made the NCAA Tournament at 39-19, 15-10 in Conference USA.
Departing was the team’s top offensive player, Natalie Land (.346/.413/.560, 43 stolen bases), as well as Vanessa Perez, third on the team in RBI (23).
Sophomore Farrah Sullivan is the top returning offensive player, as she led the Knights with 35 RBI while posting six homers and 13 doubles. She missed the opening week of play.
Back is sophomore ace Mackenzie Audas, who struck out 279 and walked 83 in 229.2 innings of work (1.28 ERA, 21-12 record).
Kahley Novak and Hailey Barraco top the team with .400 batting averages entering the weekend. Barraco also has both of UCF’s homers.

Scouting Buffalo

The Bulls return all but one offensive starter and its top pitcher from a team that went 14-31 and 4-17 in the Mid-American Conference.
Every Bull in 2012 hit a homer, and six hit more than two. All of those student-athletes return.
Alexis Curtiss (.379/.446/.621) leads the returners, hitting five homers and posting 26 RBI.
Holly Luciano stole 10 bases in 11 tries last year.
Alyssa Ward got hit by 12 pitches in 2012, while Tori Pettine was plunked eight times.
Tori Speckman is the lone returning pitcher after striking out 111 and walking 64 in 141.2 innings of work (4.79 ERA, 11-14 record).
Three newcomers could help Speckman, including junior-college transfer Heather Ryder and true freshmen Nicole Aviles and Dani Cowen.

Scouting Texas Arlington

The Mavericks bring back three starters from last year’s 15-27 team.
UTA is led by new head coach Kristie Fox, an Arizona grad.
Both pitchers used in 2012 return, led by Teri Lyles, who posted 83 strikeouts and 51 walks in 155 innings (2.21 ERA, 8-13 record).
Also back is Callie Collins, who tossed 128 innings, striking out 79 and walking 60 (3.28 ERA, 7-14 record).
The top five hitting starters all departed, leaving Lyles as the best returning hitter, hitting a homer with nine RBI and a .241/.238/.337 line.
Kallan Thopson started 37 games and went .176/.247/.212.
Eight newcomers are on the team, including one junior-college transfer, Dajonnie Hooks.