The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 13, 2001, Page 9, Image 9
'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.
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■ 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.
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