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Gamecock Sports Schedule ■ Baseball vs. Charleston Southern, 7 p.m. Wednesday ■ Baseball vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. Friday ■ Baseball vs. Kentucky, 4 p.m. Saturday ■ Track and field at Ohio St., Sunday %\\t (Bamecock page bi Baseball takes two of three from Auburn ■ Gamecocks win first SEC series in nearly a month by Preston Baines The Gamecock Over the past weekend, USC’s baseball team took the first two games of a three-game set with No. 24 Auburn, but the Tigers won the third game 5-3 at Saige Frye Field to avoid the sweep. Auburn (31-14,12-12 SEC), behind the power of left fielder Gabe Gross, defeated Carolina 5-3 in Sunday’s finale, ending one of the most impressive streaks in the SEC, the Gamecocks’ 12-game winning streak over the Tigers. Despite the loss, USC (34-14,12-12) still had.a successful weekend, winning Friday and Saturday’s games by scores of 10-9 and 7-4 respectively. The series victory was its first in conference play since losing four straight. In the Auburn win Sunday, the Tigers got a strong performance from freshman starting pitcher Colby Paxon (4-2), who went seven innings and gave up six hits and three runs, two earned. Auburn struck first Sunday in the top of the second inning when catcher Trent Pratt hit his fifth home run of the year off Gamecock starter junior Chris Spigner (64). The Gamecocks responded quickly by capitalizing on an Auburn error. With one out in the bottom half of the inning, USC junior outfielder Michael Floyd grounded the ball to third baseman Scott Schade, who hobbled the ball and hurried his throw to first The throw sailed over first baseman Todd Faulkner’s head, and Floyd advanced all the way to third. Carolina’s next batter, senior second baseman Bryon Jeffcoat, hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Floyd and tie the game at one. The teams again traded scoring in the third inning. Auburn got a leadoff double by shortstop Jonathan Schuerholtz (son of Atlanta Braves General Manager John Schuerholtz), and he was sacrifice bunted over to third by left fielder Javon Moran. Schuerholtz scored on the next play when center fielder Mailon Kent hit a run scoring groundout. Senior third baseman Chris Plummer and junior center fielder Marcus McBeth each hit singles to start the third inning for the Gamecocks, putting runners on first and third Sophomore shortstop Drew Meyer hit a fielder’s choice to score Plummer. After junior left fielder Garris Gonce drew a walk, Meyer stole second and third After Gonce stole second with two outs, senior catcher Tim Whittaker singled to left, scoring Meyer. When Gonce tried for home on the same play, Gross made a perfect throw to home and the umpire called Gonce out. Gonce, upset at the call, slammed his helmet on the ground, causing him to be ejected from the game. USC head coach Ray Tanner thought the ejection was deserved. “I agree with the call completely. When you toss your helmet in front of the umpire like that, you should be ejected,” Tanner said. “I don’t like that, and I don’t condone that. I am in complete support of the umpire’s decision.” The Gamecocks never recovered after the controversial call. The score remained 3-2 in favor of USC until the top of the sixth, when Gross led off the inning for the Tigers with a solo home run to right, his second of the series. No more scoring took place until the top of the eighth, when Gross struck again. The slugger led off with another solo home run, running his totals to three for the series and 12 for the season. The Tigers were looking for insurance in the ninth innning, and they got some without the benefit of a hit. Spigner walked the first batter of the inning and was relieved by junior Blake Baseball see page b2 Travis Lynn/The Gamecock David Marchbanks and the Gamecock baseball team are making a ' run at the postseason. Holtz injured in freak accident ■ Football head coach won't need surgery by Kyle Almond The Gamecock mu nouz naa pieniy oi gooa lonune this past year as head coach of the USC football team, but his own car got the better of him a little more than a week ago. When the 64 year-old Holtz stepped out of his car to check his mail on April 21, the car drifted backward, pinning his right leg against the car door. A teenager who Hqlt2 lived neaiby tried to come to Holtz’s rescue, but instead of relieving the pressure by moving the car forward, he made it worse by putting the car in reverse. “It ripped the door and my hip and my leg,” Holtz said. Holtz’s back also was traumatized by the incident. The coach had an MRI .this past Thursday that revealed a protruding disc between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae in his back. Holtz told The State that because of the back injury, it’s actually his left leg that’s liaving the most problems, going numb at times. “I’ll be OK,” Holtz said. “Actually, I’m lucky it wasn’t worse. The right leg looks worse, but the left leg is the problem.” Holtz see page b2 Aaron Hark/The Gamecock USC’s softball team won this past weekend’s series with No. 6 Alabama and has momentum going into the SEC Tournament Softball team finishes in style by Jason Malick The Gamecock Sunday was a momentous day for the No. 23 USC softball team, which won its final regular season game 2-1 against No. 6 Alabama in extra innings at Beckham Field. The win gave Carolina the season series after defeating the Crimson Tide two out of three times. On Saturday, the Gamecocks split a doubleheader with the Tide. USC’s Amber Curtis hit the game-winning single in the first game for a nine-inning, TO win. Alabama took the second game 8-2 after seven Gamecock errors, but the Gamecocks recovered on Sunday with another extra-inning performance. Before the start Sunday, the Gamecocks (37 17-1,18-8 SEC) honored three graduating seniors. Each of the three players, left fielder Megan Donohoo, right fielder Joyce McMillin and catcher Adrienne Genovese, were presented with a bouquet of flowers and warm wishes from fellow teammates and head coach Joyce Compton. “Anytime you lose quality people, not just players, it’s tough,” Compton said. “We’re losing three people that have put in a lot of ball games for us (more than 200 games combined). Seniors just want to go out with a win, and I’m sure our team is very happy that they were able to do that.” Alabama (44-6, 23-5) took an early lead Sunday with a solo home run by Suzanne Olcott on the first pitch of the game. The Crimson Tide was able to hang on to the 1-0 lead for six-and-a half innings before the Gamecocks rebounded off an RBI triple by Curtis, which tied the game. The Alabama series was a phenomenal one for Curtis, who also won Saturday’s game with a timely hit. “It felt great,” Curtis said about her two critical hits in the series. “It was great to do it for my team; that’s what we’re here for.” The game remained tied for three extra innings, until the 11th, when USC second baseman Debralee Troesh hit a line drive to left, giving the Gamecocks the 2-1 win. “It was agood hit, I felt comfortable with it,” Troesh said about the game-winner. “This was an awesome way to do it — against Alabama through extra innings. It was just the best. You can’t ask for a better weekend.” Alabama pitcher Shelley Laird (28-4) took the loss after pitching the complete game. Megan Softball see page B2 use softball statistical leaders OFFENSE Batting average 1. Joyce McMillin .294 2. Adrienne Genovese .283 3. Kim Evans .269 Runs scored 1. Joyce McMillin 27 2. Megan Donohoo 25 3. Jodi Fittro 19 Hits 1. Joyce McMillin . 48 2. Debralee Troesh 44 3. Adrienne Genovese 43 Runs batted in 1. Joyce McMillin 34 2. Amber Curtis 20 3. Debralee Troesh 18 Home runs 1. Joyce McMillin 6 2. Megan Donohoo 3 3. three players tied at 2 PITCHING Earned run average 1. Megan Matthews 1.11 2. Stacey Johnson 1.13 Opposing batting average 1. Megan Matthews .165 2. Stacey Johnson .189 Wins 1. Megan Matthews 20 2. Stacey Johnson 17 Strikeouts 1. Megan Matthews 274 2. Stacey Johnson 104 by Kyle Almond The Gamecock The USC volleyball team announced two freshman recruits for the 2001 season on Monday. Outside hitter Yajaira Cadet and defensive specialist Bridget White will join the Gamecocks in late August. Both players are expected to make major contributions to next year’s squad, bringing USC a great deal of experience and talent. Cadet comes to Carolina from Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, and White is from Naperville, 111. Cadet attended Liceo Jose’ Marti High School and was a member of the Dominican Republic’s national indoor team from 1994-96. f[cr ^ several tournamcnts’ 'nc*uding tlreNorceca Tournament in Mexico. Cadet was one Volleyball brings aboard two new players for 2001 season of three candidates for MVP for the Higher Volleyball Cup of the National District, and she was named Defensive Player of the tournament. After her indoor career, Cadet played on the Dominican Republic’s national beach volleyball team from 1997-2000. In the National Games, her team won first place in beach volleyball. That team also won five straight national tournaments and played in the Central Caribbean Games in Venezuela. Individual honors Cadet garnered included Beginner of the Year in the Higher Volleyball District in 1994. She was also the MVP in the Cibao Cup in 1996 and 1998, and was her city’s athlete of the year in 1994. Cadet’s athleticism shines ofi'tlic court as well. As a junior national athlete, Gidct was ninkcd second nationally in the jivclin and third in the discus. “I think that God brought me here,” Cadet said. “I am excited to come to South Carolina. I like the team; they are very nice. The coaches are wonderful. 1 can’t wait to get started.” Carolina head coach Kim Christopher can’t wait, either. “Yajaira brings a wealth of experience and maturity to our team,” Christopher said. “She has competed at the highest level, and that experience will be tremendous for our team. Yajaira is a great player and a quality individual that has studied very hard to get where she is now.” White, a defensive specialist who played at St. Francis High School in Naperville, III., was the captain of her team that finished as runner-up at the 2000 state championship. White’s team went to the Sweet 16 in 1999 and finished third in 1998. White also plays for the Sports Performance Club of Wfcst Chictgo, which was AAU champion in 1999 and 2000. It was also third at Nationals in 2000 and recently traveled to China, where it won the tournament and qualified for the National Junior Olympic Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah. Off the court, White was her school’s student government president in the 2000 01 school year. She was vice president last year. A member of Wlio’s Who Among American High School Students, she has made the honor roll every year of high school. “I chose South Carolina because of the coaches and the team,” White said. ‘I think that God brought me here. I am excited to come to South Carolina.’ Yajaira Cadet USC volleyball signee for 2001 “I am also excited because USC is an up and-coming program.” Christopher spoke highly of White’s ofT-the-court intangibles. “Bridget was a great fit for us from the beginning because of her work ethic and character,” Christopher said. “She plays relentless defense and is a good serve-receive passer. Bridget will help to solidify our team defensively.” Cadet and White will look to fortify an already powerful returning squad that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past season. USC finished 22-7 and knocked off George Washington in the first round of postseason play before losing a five-set tliriller against No. 1 Nebraska in the second round. The sports desk cun be reached at gamecocksports@hotmail.com