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'Che (Bamecock Gamecocks getting ready for rowdy crowd at MSU by Preston Baines ^ The Gamecock The lOth-ranked USC baseball team will try to snap a five-game SEC road losing streak this weekend as it travels to Starkville, Miss., for a three game series with the Mississippi State Bulldqgs. It won’t be an easy series for the Gamecocks (28-9, 8-7 SEC). The Bulldogs (19-13,9-6) are coming off a key series win at Eastern Division leader Tennessee and have improved since starting the season 6-5. This season, though, has been a far ciy from the usual for the Bulldqgs. MSU came into this season with seven straight NCAA tournament berths, including a pair of College Wforld Series appearances ^ in 1997 and 1998. Throw in the fact that the Gamecocks will be making a nine hour bus ride to one of the most feared atmospheres in all of college baseball, and it looks to be a tough series. “There haven’t been too many teams that have fared well over the years in Starkville,” USC head coach Ray Tanner said. “We know we have to play well, and, hopefully, we can come out and have a good weekend. “[The Bulldogs] play so much better at home. We swept them here last year in three great games, but they’re a different team at home. I think that in baseball it is difficult sometimes to have an advantage at home, but if there’s any place you can have one, it’s at Starkville, Mississippi. (They have) great attendance and good fans, but they can be intimidating at times.” In order for the Gamecocks to ^ win, their starting pitching must improve from its recent form. Prior to salvaging the final game of the series against LSU this past weekend at Saige Frye Field, the Gamecock starters had been shelled in five straight conference games by Alabama and LSU. Both the Gamecocks and Bulldogs have been successful this season with the help of good pitching. MSU ranks second in the SEC in pitching, while the Gamecocks rank third. Of all the things USC thought they could count on going into the season, Kip Bouknight seemed to be one of them. The senior right-hander and 2000 National Player of the Year has had some rough spots this season, though, including two straight conference losses, which is more than the Gaston native had all of last season. Bouknight is tied for second in the SEC in wins (six), with USC pitchers Gary Bell and Chris Spigner and is second in strikeouts (55), but has an earned run average more than two runs higher than last season at 4.88. “We’ll go (with) Bouknight (6-2) Friday and Spigner (6-2, 3.15) on Saturday, and then we’ll see what happens on Sunday,” Tanner said of his projected rotation. “Wfe’re going to take each game one at a time. Bell (64,3.64) may be in relief Friday or Saturday. He could still be a candidate for Sunday. [David] Marchbanks could be a candidate. Even Blake Taylor (2-0, 2.25) could be a candidate.” Spigner is coming off a great performance last Sunday against LSU, when he allowed two runs over six innings, while Taylor has been one of the Gamecocks’ top relievers all season. MSU will counter with freshman Paul Maholm (4-2, 3.65) and junior Tanner Brock (5-1, 2.63), who is 4-0 with a 1.43 ERA in conference play. The other Bulldog starter, is unknown. While the two teams’ pitching stacks up fairly equally, the hitting has been a different story. The Gamecocks are by far the SEC leader in home runs with 65 on the year, compared to just 16 for the Bulldogs. If you Drink, have a Designated Driver. A message from those who have been in situations where ^ Drunk Drivers have failed to have a Designated Driver. Ask For The Box Phone Includes: pnoNE & PAGER FOR • Motorola Phone . • Home Charger • Activation Fee ^~R ^~R • $30 Airtime *1 ?i' \i c"^i I Nixxo Pager Includes --“ • 1 month free airtime *some restrictions apply 6729 Two Notch Rd. WSTI 419-2081 SS Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-2 [Swtoj ‘ SOPHOMORES! FORMULATE % YOUR FUTURE If you're a Math, Physics, Architecture, Computer Science, Nursing, Engineer ing or Meteorology major — take note. Your degree + Air Force ROTC = a commission as an Air Force Officer. It’s your formula for success. The Air Force ROTC Two Year Program is designed for those who did not take the first two years of ROTC. Take a close look at Air Force ROTC now. Don't let technology pass you by. Be a part of it. Contact Captain Alexandria Watson Carolina Coliseum, Room 1018 803-777-3450 ^ Leadership Excellence Starts Here ■ LOCATION: Dudy Noble Field, Starkville, Miss. ■ TIMES: 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday ■ RADIO: WVOC 540 AM ■ RECORDS: USC (28-7, 8- 7 SEC), Miss. St. (19-13, 9- 6) The Gamecock hitting attack will be led by seniors Tim Whittaker and Bryon Jeffcoat. Both have come from spot duty in their previous three years to lead the team in home runs with 13 and 11, respectively. Junior Marcus McBeth is right behind them with 10 on the year. Whittaker leads the SEC in home runs, while Jeffcoat ranks third and McBeth fourth. Hitting hasn’t been a strong point this season for the Bulldogs. They rank last in the conference in home runs and next to last in runs scored and batting average. Both teams go into the series on winning notes. The Gamecocks have won three straight following a win over No. 2 LSU and two midweek wins over The Citadel. The Bulldqgs split a mid week series with No. 13 South Alabama in Starkville, falling 5-4 Tuesday and winning 9-2 Wednesday. The sports desk can be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com • •• we won’t be silent. Get involved, and let your voice be heard. Sports Commentary PGA to even the playing field BT^> ecause of Tiger Woods’ f^complete domination of A. J professional golf, the PGA is about to make some interesting rule changes for the rest of the season. Rumor has it that many golfers, including Masters runners up David Duval and Phil Mickelson, are so fed up with Woods that they have demanded an equal opportunity at winning a major championship. These changes aren’t confirmed yet, but look for these new rules to be implemented sometime hotmail.com. before the U.S. Open in June. Rule Change No. 1 — In major tournaments, Tiger Woods is not allowed to hit anything other than an 8-iron off the tee. PGA officials argued over whether Woods would be allowed to hit a 7-iron off the tee, but after watching the movie Tin Cup, they decided it would be safe to stick with the 8-iron. Tiger will still be allowed to use his woods in the fairway, however. Rule Change No. 2 — Fans will be allowed to take pictures of Tiger Woods during his backswing in major tournaments. The only time Tiger is thrown off his game is when fans rattle his trademark concentration. To even the playing field, it will now be fair game to snap a picture of him right before he hits the ball. Flash photography is encouraged. Rule Change No. 3—If Tiger Woods misses any putt from less than 10 feet in a major, a penalty stroke will be added to his score. The PGA thinks this rule will also boost ratings, as it makes every putt by Woods that,much more important. Rule Change No. 4 — Tiger Woods must carry his own clubs during a major. Woods will not be allowed a caddie under any circumstances. An additional clause will say his bag must weigh at least 75 pounds. Rule Change No. 5 — No red shirts will be permitted during the final round of a major. Tiger wears his lucky red to get himself in the right mindset for victory. It’s a symbol of his inner strength. So the PGA, desperate to eliminate any advantage Tiger might have, no matter how minute, is going to make him wear a different color on Sundays. Rule Change No. 6 — During majors, Tiger Woods must wear headphones at all times that broadcast live commentary by CBS’ Jim Nantz. The PGA’s thinking here is simple: If listening to Nantz’s melodramatic babbling won’t make Woods spray a few shots here and there, then nothing on this earth will. According to sources, these rules are almost a lock to go into effect. Other pros have threatened to leave the PGA and start their own league unless they get an even playing field. I have to admit, though, I’m a little skeptical. I still don’t think these rule changes are enough to stop the most dominant athlete of the post-Jordan era. If the Duvals and Mickelsons of the world really want to have a chance to keep up with Tiger, they’ve got two choices: find a way to cheat without getting caught, or hh him with one of the Buicks he endorses. Other than that, there’s no way Tiger Woods is going to be stopped. The PGA can make whatever rules it wants, but nothing’s going to keep him from breaking every professional golf record that’s out there. Sports Briefs ■ Eichelberger gets deciding win in final home game Gamecock senior Leigh Eichelberger, playing in her final home match, finished in grand style by winning at No. 2 doubles and clinching the team match with a win at No. 6 singles as USC’s women’s tennis team downed LSU 5-2 Wednesday. With the win, USC moves to 13-7 and 7-4 in the SEC, while LSU goes to 13-8 and 3-7 in the SEC. Eichelberger leaves USC its all-time doubles wins leader with 84. USC claimed an early 1 -0 match lead after sweeping doubles play. The Gamecocks have now won the doubles point in 17-of-20 matches this season. • The Carolina team of Jennifer Radman and Kathy Boyanovich, ranked 25th, upset 14th-ranked Bruna Colosia and Rocio Fantilli at No. 1 doubles 8-6 to start USC off. r~ In singles play, USC clinched the match when Echelbeiger put away Amy Mcllhaney in straight sets 6-3,6-2. USC claimed earlier points with wins from Katarina Markovski and Boyanovich. Lynn-Yin Tan was the fourth singles winner for the Gamecocks. Next up for USC is the SEC Tournament, which begins next Thursday morning at Mississippi State. USC is assured of the 5th seed, meaning they will face the 12th-seeded team in the opening round. ■ Track and field teams successful in state competition Finishing first in both sides of the South Carolina State Collegiate Championships, the Gamecock men won seven events, while the women won nine. The women's team was highlighted by the school record set by sophomore Antoinette Wilks in the long jump. Wilks hit 20-7 1/4 to break the school record by six inches and qualify provisionally for the NCAA Championships. Also qualifying provisional for the championships was pole vaulter Kylene Nixon, who vaulted 12-6 and won the event. Jackie Madison won the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles. Other winners on the men’s side' • include James Law (400 meters), LaMonte Pennington (800 meters), Shane Ricker (5000 meters), C. J. Anderson (110-meter hurdles),-Fred; Townsend (high jump). Adam Bishop (shot put) and the 4x400m relay team. Other Gamecock women who triumphed were Mechelle Lewis (100 meters), Sheneka Griffin (200 meters), Shontel Powell (400 meters) and the 4x100 and 4x400m relay teams. -.» | • 300 sq.ft, to 700 sq.ft. • No Lease Required I • 30 sizes and types i I • You rent to the inch- only what you need I • Extra side doors 1 • Resident Managers ' I • Computer controlled gate access i I • Free use of moving dollies I • Freight deliveries accepted 1 • You lock it and keep the keys I 1 • From locker size to garage size I . U-Haul® Trucks • Moving Boxes & Supplies I Mini Office Warehouses I Climate and Non-Climate Controlled 803-256-0103 803-787-5332 1037 Elmwood Dr., Columbia 5604 Forest Dr., Columbia Elmwood @ Main St. Forest Dr. @ 177 803-798-1580 3754 Fernandina Rd., Columbia 1-26, S. ofPiney Grove visit us on the web @ www.private-mini.com . ! ! www.dailygamecock.com ^ Gamecock news 5 days a week. UCfiB&(5mecock I 1 Ej [3 rn Lxl m pj E3 * I !-1