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Lady Gan Johnson r BRYAN JOHNSTON Sports Editor Coming off a productive weekend in Las Vegas, where the Lady Gamecocks won three of five games, South Carolina's sofiball team proved it could do even better in Georgia. The Lady Gamecocks won six games to capture the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., this weekend. "I think it's a confidence booster," Carolina head coach Joyce Compton said. "I thought our defense played well. We're playing well enough to win and right now, that's the key." Senior Ail-American Trinity Johnson was her usual, dominating self. Johnson, who was last week's National Player of the Week, went 4-0 in 25 1/3 innings pitched. She struck out 41 in that time and allowed only one earned run (0.28 ERA). At the plate, Johnson was 4-foreight with one homerun and three RBIs. "She's a veiy good player and you expect very good players to rise to the occasion," Compton said. The performance earned her the National Player of the Week honor for the week of March 4. Junior Sky Brown batted .444 (8for-18) with four RBIs for the tournament, i Carolina (11-2) has won nine games in a row after winning six games in Georgia. USC defeated Massachusetts, Illinois State, USL, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Washington in the championship. As a result of their streak, the Lady Gamecocks moved up to No. 4 in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 released today, i In the first game, USC beat UMass, 1-0. Senior Ail-American Chanda Lee and Tina Plew each went l-for-3. Lee drove in the lone run when she knocked in Carrie Lyons in the bottom of the second inning. Brown went the distance, giving up only one hit and striking out two. ^ In the second game, Carolina k Chapte Sorority! Stan Social G Risk Manager Financial Foundatioi Public Relatio * % Highest Initiate GP i r\ .j . ,.sh spiiuMwaiu. a Golden Crest Outstanding Correspondir Outstanding Collet Outstanding Preside I v. Vtr ttecocKs ecognized as Natic Hpi f "If-/ '. " . **< ::, < :: ;* . - ... - - s "* ,< Two-time Ail-American Trinity Jo 2/3 innings of work. She also has defeated Illinois State, 3-2, in nim innings. Freshman Kim Schultzt lined a shot over the shortstop's heac with two outs to drive in Kelb Dammer to win the game. Dammer went 3-for-3 and Browr went 3-for-4 as the Lady Gamecock; pounded out 10 hits. Sophomore Nikki Beers pitchec 5 2/3 innings and gave up only on( earned run. Johnson entered in th( sixth inning and closed the door rAwards E flu rdfirin . UUUUUUUH dards * ertificate nent Certificate Certificate h i Certificate ns Silver Piece al Awards Deanna McLeridon Mnda Hampton Kim Buckner Shirah Marshall ig Secretary: Kim Kirkland jian: RachaelGinn int: Christy Freeman SPO mn NFCA mal Player of the Wet J %* m j)ft** V /A||| .rtdfll Hr *1 llSP '!' f - _ ljhhh t: -- I Special to The Gamecock hnson has struck out 77 batters in 51 an ERA of 0.27 and a record of 8-1. i striking out eight in only 3 1/3 innings i work. 1 South Carolina then entered the / Gold Medal Double Elimination Championship Bracket In their first i game in the championship bracket, 3 Carolina shutout USL, 3-0, in eight innings. Lyons and Johnson were 1 each 2-for-4 with an RBI. 3 On the mound, T. J.' struck out 3 11 in the eight innings as she picked , up her second win of the day. I" Carolina defeated Texas A&M in the quarterfinals, 4-1. Johnson was on her game as she contributed both on the mound and at the plate. She was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a home run against Lady Aggie pitching. Johnson also picked up another victory. Despite giving up her only earned run of the weekend, Johnson gave up only two 1 $10 OFF flNV 10 17 Sun 739 Min. Age 18 Years Wide Range of Cars, Trucks and Vans Daily, Weekly & Monthly Rentals Free Local Pick-Up & Delivery Competitive Low Rates WVW University Subscription Services seeks aggmsiv* CAMPUS MANAGERS. * Part-time at Full-time pay. *$$$ Paid Out Monthly. V" v k \7___ H ifir1 KTS Tourney ?k...again hits and struck out 12 in only seven innings of work. In the semifinals, USC capitalized on four Fighting Irish errors as they defeated Notre Dame, 3-2. Brown was the star of the game for the Lady Gamecocks. On the mound, Brown (3-0) went the distance, giving up two runs and striking out two in the process. At the plate, Brown was 2-for-3 with an RBI. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Plew got on with a double and Brown's single to left-center drove in Plew to send USC to the chan.p:?"2hip. In the championship game, Carolina had to face Washington, a team they defeated 9-2 Feb. 22. The game was a bit closer this time, but the outcome was the same as USC defeated the Lady Huskies, 1-0 to win the title. Brown drove in Plew in the top of the fourth to produce the only run. That would be all that Johnson needed as she held Washington to three hits, while giving up zero runs and striking out 10. The Lady Gamecocks could earn the nickname of'The Cardiac Kids" if they keep waiting to win until the end. Compton said she is both pleased and discouraged by the trend. "I'm not that happy that we go extra innings, because the ones that did go extra innings, I felt we should have been able to take care of early," Compton said. "Anytime you have close ballgames, I think they're a lot more helpful to you in the long run." Through 13 games this year, the pitching staff has been the brightest light on a team full of stars. The trio of Johnson, Brown and ti i 1* . . J 1 1 n Dn A oeers nas a comDinea jl.io n<rv/\. Johnson (8-1) has an ERA of 0.27 while striking out 77 in only 512/3 innings of work. Lee is batting .318 (14-for-44). Plew is leading the team in RBIs with nine. Lee and Plew are tied for the lead in steals, each with two. The Lady Gamecocks will travel to Tampa, Fla., this weekend for the Speedline/South Florida Classic. Friday, they take on Robert Morris, Indiana and Florida Atlantic. Saturday, they play Indiana State and UT-Chattanooga. Saturday and Sunday, the team will play in the Championship Brackets, yet to be determined. 3DflVRENTnL SESS set B I u d . 2770 No Credit Cards Needed > But Major Credit Cards Accepted Cash Rentals Welcome Over 400 Locations Worldwide o | | ; ! gggSSBjBSBRSS jx?:-:-:': : I dSS9t Sim sWmMm I m\ i iS piWP" Your Quality / Phone orders. Free !M'i " ' Davis. Watso Fogler bono HONORS continued from page 8 Fogler was added to the list of those honored as he was named the SEC Coach of the Year by the coached, his second such honor in five years. Fogler was the 1993 SEC So you want to go to the Big Dar you're going to win a ticket in the 1( usual, has come to your rescue. Be much you should be prepared to sh< action. Our advice is to call the subregio is made Sunday. M*uv.h 9 at 6:30 n i" 1st and 2nd Rounds Ticket i. EAST : Winston-Salem, NC SOLD 1 Pittsburgh, Pa. SOLD 1 SOUTHEAST Memphis, Tenn. 8,000 rem Charlotte, NC 10,000 rer MIDWEST Auburn Hills, Mich. SOLD < Kansas City, Kan. SOLD < WEST Salt Lake City, Utah 2,500 rem Tucson, Ain z. 2,000 rem Regionals Syracuse, NY 2,000 rem Birmingham, Ala. SOLD 1 San Antonio, Texas 8,000 rem San Jose, Calif. SOLD 1 FINAL FOUR Indianapolis, Ind. SOLD 1 Choose your pa S. Carolina is g HUNT continued from page 8 in overtime. The Gamecocks survived against Florida at home, a game in which the players and the fans just went through the motions as they had Kentucky game lag. After the Florida game, the Gamecocks hit the road to Athens to play the Georgia Bulldogs again. When the Bulldogs won the game 77-74, the Bulldog fans stormed the court, a sure sign the Gamecocks were stalling to get a bigger, brighter spotlight on the dance floor. inen trie uamecocKs spotiignt got real big when the went up to Cincinnati and beat the then No. 8 5JVW MM MM MW MM MM MM MM MM MM i Studer I - $1 I Anytin C Includes Green ? ww ?w nw. .ww ww ww w? mw ww ? 7& 7 miles from 1-26 on 321S Take MMHMMMHMMMIMHMIMOTNHHHaHHMMJMHMMMMNMMHMOTI v vEEftllC I: iP to JWN utJyfour "ternative tan ' * accepted with waste (803) 254-5330 || 1609 Blossom St parking or walk from cam] __ 71 J. V - ft, IVICIVW, red by SEC and National Coach of the Year after leading Vanderbilt to the SEC Championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 berth. The Gamecocks may have the best three-guard offense in the nation, but Monday it was confirmed they have the best one in the SEC. ice and don't know how. Not sure % ittery? Well Gamecock Sports, as low is listed who to call and how ell out to watch the Gamecocks in * nal site as soon as the announcement Good luc" -v.id we'll =#*0 yon them. Status Telephone Numbers OUT OUT ain, $90 each 901-678-2331 nain, $75 each 704-357-4801 OUT OUT ain, $66 each 801-581-8849 ain, $78 each 800-452-2287 ain, $60 each 315-443-2121 OUT ain, $32 each 800-884-3663 OUT OUT irtner because oing dancing Bearcats 97-83. Of course the spotlight grew to gigantic proportions when the Gamecocks won on Sunday at Rupp Arena. The Gamecocks overcame the legendary ceremonies of a Kentucky basketball senior day that included the going away party for sophomore Ron Mercer. Now the Gamecocks are No. 4 in the country in both polls and they will be looking to defend their spot on the "March Madness" dance floor at the SEC Tournament. If the Gamecocks can win the SEC Tournament, the chances are pretty good that they will receive a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance. Maybe this time they can be the teacher instead of the pupil. if Special I ter i neMon-fri Feel Cart andJaxJ i a right on Woodtrail ?then follow signs ^Nc, B8l SB 8HBH ' ' urStk mawAltaeA Af mill pMI VIIH9V VI 25 personalized graduation announcements... $3975 + tax. Post graduates: Free hood with innouncement and gownpurchase. J- Gifts Discounts * Specials s ^ % i 1 ?1 % % % ^% ?8888 s | ? n x i are Exclusivity >r CarH Ar VIo ' H : , . ; SS? > . 'so- y - i, pus in null in ill 111 III III