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Rain, wet hamper sp By DAVID CARAVIELLO and JEFF NICHOLS Staff writers It would have been pretty tough to convince the few diehard fans in Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday night that this was a spring game. Relentless rain and a winter-like chill caused the turnout for the annual gridiron gala to be much lower than expected, and the weather also contributed to sloppy play on the field. The scrimmage, consisting simply of the offense vs. the defense for 80 downs with new squads coming in every eight downs, was plagued by slick field conditions that resulted in numerous fumbles and dropped passes. The only score of the first half came on the 21st play of the game, as placekicker Collin Mackie launched a 47-yard field goal into the driving rain that barely slipped over the crossbar. Mackie accomplished the feat without the use of a tee, disallowed in the upcoming season because of an NCAA rule change. After Mackie's kick, the Gamecock offense remained stagnant until the 21st play of the second half, when runningback Mike Dingle took a handoff from quarterback Wright Mitchell and plunged into the end zone from a yard out. The play, set up by a 15-yard pass reception by walk-on Bralyn Bennett, was the lone touchdown and final score of the game. Last year's starting quarterback, Todd Ellis, looked about as sharp as could be expected in the downpour, connecting on six of 14 attempts in for 81 yards. Ellis was intercepted once and sacked three times for a loss of 18 yards. "It was real slippery," Ellis said of the field conditions. "I don't think anyone went full speed. Everybody was on skates at times. But I thought we did fairly well as slick as it was." Backup quarterback Dickie DeMasi also performed well, completing five of eight tries for 45 yards. DeMasi was sacked twice for a loss of 14 yards. Reserve quarterbacks Wright Mitchell and Chip Dudley also saw time, with Mitchell going one of three for six yards and Dudley one of one for 15 yards. THE GAMECOCK THE GAMECOCK is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the fali and spring semesters and weekly on Wednesdays during both summer sessions, with the exception of university holidays and examination periods. Opinions expressed in THE GAMECOCK are those of the editors and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of THE GAMECOCK. The Student Media Department is the parent organization of THE GAMECOCK. Change of address forms, subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to THE GAMECOCK, Box 85131, University of South Carolina, Columbia, o r jo^na Subscription rates are $18.00 for (1) year, $10.00 per fali or spring semester and $4.00 for both summer sessions. Third class postage paid at Columbia, S.C. THE GAMECOCK is a licensed student organization of the University of South Carolina and receives funding from student activity fees. ln~~== CALL T< LivingWell, Fitnen Center America's He conditions ring game Todd Ellis Harold Green led all Gamecock rushers with 45 yards on seven carries, while converted tight end Ken Watson rushed seven times for 42 yards, 26 of those coming from a single explosion down the right sideline. Dingle carried nine times for 24 yards and the game's only touchdown. Anthony Parlor led the USC receivers with 46 yards on three receptions, while Bennett followed with 31 yards on two catches. Defensively, David Taylor and Robert Gibson led the squad with five tackles apiece, while defensive back Dale Campell had the game's only interception. At halftime, defensive lineman Bobby Brown was awarded the Joe Morrison Memorial Trophy, given to the outstanding player in spring practice. "Overall, the rain hampered us from being as sharp as we should oe, saia new use neaa coacn Sparky Woods. "Obviously, tonight we wouldn't have beaten anyone, rain or shine." Walk-on receiver Perry Wilson said Woods told the players after the game that he was generally satisfied with the team's play, although improvement was needed. "He seemed basically pleased with the performance because we made each other work, but he also said there were many areas for improvement," Wilson said. "He said that the weather showed what kind of character the team had, because it made us dig down and play hard." inf( \ ) MEE c )(J FOR k. / l?^ INFC GET IHVOL DDAY! alth Club Strong pi By CHRIS SILVESTRI Assistant sports editor The Lady Gamecock softball team cruised through the USC invitational tournament on the wave of two shutout wins by pitchers Charlene Manley and Angie Lear Sunday at Sarge Frye Field. USC, now 31-7, used a three-run third inning to clinch their fifth victory of the tournament and the championship against East Carolina in the finals. Lear improved her season mark to 16-4, with a four-hit shutout in the 4-0 win. In tHp tViir/H innin o 1 U Ill L11V lllll U llllllllg), 111V I^JLIlranked Lady Gamecocks received consecutive singles from Cheri Laskowski, Tricia Popowski and Stacy Agee to load the bases with one out for Marianne DiRupo. DiRupo grounded a single up the middle, scoring two runs, and with runners on second and third, second baseman Michelle Delloso looped a single to right field giving USC a 3-0 lead. The teams went scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when right fielder Kathy Matthew doubled to left-center and later scored on a fielder's choice by Laskowski. The Lady Gamecocks played excellent defense throughout the game, as they stymied two potential rallies by East Carolina with a double play and a force at second off two sacrifice bunts by the Lady Pirates. "I thought we played strong defense the entire weekend," said USC head coach Joyce Compton. "If we play strong defense, I think we will wind up winning most of our games. Defense is going to dictate a lot of how we wind up in a game." In their first game of the day, the Lady Gamecocks rode the arm of Charlene Manley to a 1-0 win against Georgia State. Manley, now 15-3 on the year, gave up only two hits to the Lady Panthers. USC only picked up four hits themselves and scored their only run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice by Matthew. Delloso went two for three for the Lady Gamecocks, and DiRupo was one for three with a run scored. "I thought both Charlene (Manley) and Angie (Lear) did a TRYOUTS FOR COCKY America's # 1 Masc< UIREMENTS: *Full-time *2.0 Accu DRMATION TING: Sunday, / Booker T. Mandator MORE DRMATION: Call Bill E VED IN U.S.C. ATI Well's Unbeatabli eat program and aIa P ma am iU Aimpieieo muiim Bring in this cc 6 Mo II Only J WithJou^Sti itching pac 8f ^ WBtS$ ^ mr w 1 ^ iMi* , ijflH J .. i* ?* USC center fielder Tricia Popowsl weekend's USC invitational tournamei the tournament championship by winn good job this weekend," Compton said. "It's a little easier when we get some runs for them too, they're not pitching under pressure. If we only get two hits and the're backto-back doubles, I'll take it to win a ball game." In their first game of the tournament on Saturday, USC took an easy 5-1 victory from East Carolina, paced by a four-run sixth inning. Popowski led the way at the plate for the Lady Gamecocks, going three for four with a triple and an RBI. Manley took the win for USC, and Lady Pirate Renee Meyers was tagged with the loss. It didn't take the Lady Gamecocks long to dispose of Georgia Southern in their second >t" U.S.C. Student mutative GPA ^pril 16th at 5:00pm Washington Gym y For ALL Contestants >oggs at 777-8429 1LETICS!!! s Combination, a great price! \oo 18 yrs. or older. Cash, check or credit card only. New members only. Facilities may vary. program. )upon and get nths $99 1 ud en t_l D_ Card J USC I *" wk Jfc, 3 , . ; /< . W *; ' , Mr- ' t" ***** ^P1'' ?* ' * J? *" * Z '*< ' I prp* JAMES NETTLES/1 he Gamecock (i takes a cut at a pitch in this it. The Lady Gamecocks captured ing all five of their games. game as they pounded the Lady Eagles 13-0 in five innings. Once again it was Popowski with the hot bat as she went two for two with four runs scored and three RBIs. Martley notched the win for USC, and Lady Eagle hurler Tammie Lanier was the loser. In the third and final game for USC on Saturday, the Lady Gamecocks downed Georgia State, 5-3. Popowski remained scorching from the plate as she went three for four, and Lear took the win for USC. The Lady Gamecocks will play host to Coastal Carolina in a doubleheader at Sarge Frye Field on Tuesday, with games scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. United Way of the Midlands ^li' EVERYTHIN /i rip i nniRiP RiriAf IIHbLUUIWU IVCVV ALL denims ALL pants ALL jeans ALL l/s shirts ALL s/s shirts ALL knits UPTOWN COLUMBIA (ASSEMBLY AT LADY) "Immedii : $20 with i # New donors or any doi in 30 days can earn $2 J appointment necessary, but S (y|^ : s 0 Columbia PI 1916 Ta^ 254-6683 c "Automated, Plasma Ce %20 USC squads perform well despite rain Vrnm ctoff rannrfc * i VIII oian ivpui 13 Rain canceled more than half of the South Carolina Track and Field Collegiate Championships held Saturday at USC's Weems Baskin Track. Because of the cancellations, no team champions were named. When competition was halted, the USC men were in second place, nine points behind The Citadel. Furman, Baptist and Claflin rounded out the top five. The USC women were in fourth place, trailing Baptist, Benedict and Furman, respectively. Despite the slippery conditions, the USC men's and women's squads fared well in individual competition, as the USC men won four events and the USC women claimed one. Individual Gamecock winners were Pat Keegan, who took first place in the javelin throw with a toss of 194-11; Mike Hedgecock, who won the 3,000-meter steeplechase; and Anthony Wood, who won the long jump-competition with a leap of 23-3 1/4. The relay team of Ray Bolton, Nigel Stoddart, Robert Brooks and Eddie Miller also won for USC, taking the 4x100 relay with a time of 41.2 Other high finishers for USC included Phillipe Williams, third in the javelin with a throw of 178-9; Andy Fnctor in t Via 1 ^ A/j m at arr X VJIV.1 , 111 111V 1 JW 111V.IV.10 with a time of 4:00.3; Robert Brooks, second in the high hurdles with a time of 15.0 and Art Henson, who came in second in the high jump with a leap of 6-2. Williams also finished third in the long jump with a leap of 22-6 3/4. Lady Gamecock Gwen Sherwood won her second consecutive state championship in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:55.1, coming in just ahead of teammate Jill St. Peters, who finished at 4:57.5 The USC track and field teams will next compete on Saturday at the Vulcan City Magic Relays in Birmingham, Ala. O How We Need You! O type blood is rare and special. GIVE BLOOD, PLEASE! + American Red Cross SC Regional Blood Services ^ G REDUCED!! SPRING ARRIVALS) ALL SHORTS ALL SWIMSUITS ALL T-SHIRTS ALL SPORTCOATS ALL SWEATERS ALL JACKETS RH21 MOM-SAT (10-6) CLOSED SUNDAYS, $20 ate Cash" 'his Coupon.^ lors that haven't donated f 0.00 on first donation. No # processing is faster with one. tf j J lasma Center flor Street 2 >r 254-6684 ? niter - Faster and Safe" #