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Softball starts off strong in SEC play BY MICHAEL FINNEGAN THE GAMECOCK The Carolina softball team will not be having fun in the sun or relaxing this spring break. They will be hard at work. The Gamecocks will open up SEC play with a 3 game series against Arkansas in Fayetteville, and then they will play host to LSU in its SEC home opener. In its first test, Carolina will look to continue its impressive winning streak against the Lady Razorbacks to start out conference play strong. Carolina has a 6-game winning streak going against Arkansas and has won eight of the last nine. For Arkansas to overcome the Carolina hurdle, they are going to need to be strong on the mound. Arkansas is led by junior Valanna Lyons on the mound. She has a record of 5-4 on the year with an ERA of 2.73. However, she likes to issue walks. In 48.2 innings of work she has issued twenty-one walks to only nineteen earned runs. She also has hit USC's softball team remains tough on the road, as it readies for conference play during spring break. KATIE KIRKLAND/ THE GAMECOCK three batters and thrown five wild pitches. At the plate, the Lady Razorbacks will try to get some runs on the board. During certain stretches of the year, the Lady ‘Backs have struggled to get hits, as they have been shut out five times. In their ten losses, they have only averaged four and a half hits per game while in their seven wins, they have averaged just over 9 hits a game. They will look to Rachel LeMaster, their leading hitter, to get on base so their power hitters can bring her in. After their 3-game series with the Lady ‘Backs, the Gamecocks will travel back home to take on SEC West rival LSU. The Tigers ♦ Please see SOFTBALL, page 8 BASKETBALL Continued from page 4 seed, either Alabama or LSU, in game No. 8 of the tournament at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. On the other side of the bracket, action will begin at 1 p.m. with game No. 1, matching up the .eastern division’s No. 4 seed, USC, against the western division’s No. 5 seed, Ole Miss. The winner of that game will take on either Alabama or LSU, the west’s No. 1 seed in game No. 5, a 1 p.m. Friday matchup. The western division’s No. 3 seed, Mississippi State, will take on the eastern division’s No. 6 seed, Georgia, in game No. 2 at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday. The winner of that contest will face Florida, the eastern division’s No. 2 seed, in game No. 6 at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. Saturday will feature the final four of the SEC, as the winners of games No. 5 and 6 will face off, as will the winners of games No. 7 and 8. After the dust settles Saturday, a final will be set for a national TV audience on Sunday at 1 p.m. If you aren’t up for full days of basketball, the Dr. Pepper SEC Fanfare is just a block away at the Georgia World Congress Center. For a $6 admission, fans will be able to partake in interactive sponsored games such as the ALLTEL Slam Dunk and the BC Powder buzzer beater. Also, the Chick-fil-A press box will give fans a chance to meet, greet and listen to some of their favorite SEC hoops legends. If you are planning to attend the tournament, you can buy a weekend book for $200 at secsports.com, but individual student game tickets can be purchased at the Georgia Dome prior to each game. If you can’t make the trip to Atlanta, all games Thursday through Saturday will be televised on Jefferson Pilot Sports. Sunday’s championship will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. eiu __ I-I—-1 Receive a $100 rebate' when you enroll in a GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT, or TOEFL Kaplan course between March 1 and March 31, 2005. Enroll today! 1-800-KAP-TEST Higher test scores kaptest.com/rebate guaranteed or your money back’ Test Prep and Admissions I ‘Test names are registered trademarks of their respective owners. TRebate restnctions apply. Visit kaptest.com/rebate for complete information. fj “Conditions and restrictions apply. For complete guarantee eligibility requirements, visit kaptest.com/hsg. The Higher Score Guarantee applies only 1 to Kaplan courses taken and completed within the United States and Canada. The Higher Score Guarantee does not apply to PCAT and TOEFL courses. I . . . __ -^ I_