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USC equestrian wins national title ■ ■ Gamecock riders capture sport's first NCAA championship FROM STAFF REPORTS USC’s varsity equestrian team became NCAA champions in the title’s first year, defeating teams like Georgia and Texas A&M to take home the Gamecocks’ second team NCAA title in any sport. The Gamecocks were the first major university to sponsor equestrian, with its team competing for the first time in 1997. “This has been an interesting year,” USC coach Boo Duncan said. “We came here thinking we could win the title if things went right.” USC won the hunt seat competition Saturday, totaling 40 points compared to the Bulldogs’ 29. In equitation on the flat, freshman Kristen Terebesi won the fourth section. Sophomore Claire Sharp finished second in the third section. In equitation over fences, freshman Kelley Campbell placed third in the third section. In the event’s fourth section, sophomore Tara Brother was runner-up. On the Western side of the competition, freshman Allison Bradley won horsemanship in the fourth section. Junior Courtney Borton finished third in the third section. Junior Laura Pipkin placed fourth in reining in the third section, and freshman Lindsay Williams was sixth in the fourth section. In Friday’s competition, the Gamecocks finished the hunt seat competition with 19 points. Oklahoma State followed in second place with 14. Terebesi and sophomore Tara Brothers led the Gamecocks with impressive performances, winning ■> equitation over fences and equitation on the flat, respectively. Campbell finished runner-up in the second section of equitation on the flat. USC riders finished Friday in eighth place in Western, totaling 5 points. Sophomore Western rider Rachel Sternofif led the Gamecocks with a fifth-place finish in the first section of reining and sixth place in the first section of horsemanship. “Gamecock fans should be proud of this group of young ladies and the way they competed in New Mexico the past few days,” Duncan said. ■ RECAP Continued from page 12 finished with a game-high 44 yards. The Black team responded by marching down the field to cut the score to 7-3 on a sophomore Thomas Hooper field goal. It was on the next possession that Heffner looked his best, completing 3-of-4 of his passes for 71 yards. On two consecutive passing plays, Heffner scrambled to complete the 19-yarder to Whiteside, followed by another improvisation in which he eluded two sacks before hitting sophomore D’von Hill for a 40 yard grab at the 2-yard line. The drive culminated in a field goal by senior Josh Brown. “I thought I played pretty well for my first game in front of a lot of fans,” Heffner said. “It was a good experience. I thought I played well, moving the ball with the offense.” The lone turnover in the game occurred during Garnet’s next possession as sophomore Ty Erving picked off a pass intended for Newton, returning it for 37 yards and setting up the 10-10 tying score going into halftime. “The big downer was Noah Whiteside getting hurt,” Spurrier said. “It was unfortunate. A positive was only one turnover. Our quarterback went back and threw it right to a safety. We had a little miscommunication.” I Mitchell returned for one series in the second half that improved his standing in the quarterback race, as he led a nine play, 80-yard drive ending in a 30-yard touchdown pass to freshman Sidney Rice. It was the lone touchdown pass of the game and put the Black team ahead, 17-10. Senior Mike Rathe and sophomore Brett Nichols took over for the Garnet arrd Black teams at quarterback, respectively. Under a continuous clock that shortened the plays in the second half, neither signal caller was able to show much of his ability. Rathe finished 5 for 13 for 42 yards, and Nichols finished 4-for-7 for 50 yards, including a drive that resulted in a field goal for the final score. Sophomore Tim Frisby, known as “Pops” to Gamecock fans, recorded an 8-yard catch from Nichols on the last passing play of the game. Mitchell (12 for-23, 175 yards, TD) and Heffner (7-for-l4, 129 yards, INT) kept the quarterback race open with almost equal numbers. Doughty, the defensive MVP, contributed two sacks for the Black team. “Overall, we played well as team,” Mitchell said. “It was a fun game. I think we put on a decent show for (the fans). We had a good spring. We’ll do OK.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu NICK ESARES/THE GAMECOCK Junior shortstop Steven Tolleson, left, is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a home run in Sunday’s series finale against Vandy. ’Dores close on USC baseball By BRIAN DAVIS FOR THE GAMECOCK After a loss to rival Clemson last Wednesday, USC’s baseball team struggled to muster hits in its three-game series against Vanderbilt, losing two. In USC’s 7-4 victory Sunday, the Commodores scored first in the third inning as sophomore left fielder Stephen Shao drove in junior right fielder Matt Zeller. USC bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the third as junior shortstop Steven Tolleson hit a two-run home run, scoring junior third basemen Joey Friddle, who reached base on a bunt. After a fifth-inning run to level the score, the Gamecocks scored five runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a commanding 7-2 lead. The sixth inning featured two runs as junior left fielder Michael Campbell tripled to the outfield, scoring senior Steven Pearce. Campbell then slid in the second run on a ball that eluded the Vanderbilt catcher. Junior Davy Gregg brought in the first two scores of the seventh, as Pearce and Friddle advanced from second and third, respectively. With no outs, USC produced one more run, as Campbell drove in Gregg to score the final run of the outing. The Commodores mounted a slight comeback in the eighth as senior centerfielder Antoan Richardson hit a two-run home run, bringing in junior second basemen Warner Jones. Senior right-hander Aaron Rawl earned the win and advanced his season record to 7-2 after pitching 7 1-3 innings, allowing four runs. Vanderbilt starter freshman David Price was the losing pitcher, allowing a mediocre five hits but four runs in just more than five innings. In Saturday’s contest the Gamecocks had five hits, translating into a single run as the Commodores won, 2-1. Vanderbilt starter junior Ryan Mullins improved his undefeated streak to 4-0 while USC senior right-hander Zac McCamie fell to 7-2. Vanderbilt mustered only five hits but was able to add a single run in the eighth inning to solidify the victory. In the series’ initial game, Vanderbilt pitcher junior Jensen Lewis had a complete game, striking out nine Gamecocks and allowing only six hits. Junior Brian Hernandez and Jones had solid games, earning three RBls each on 2-of-4 and 2-of-5 performances. Vanderbilt won, 11-3. The Gamecock defense allowed 11 runs on 12 hits in the series. The Gamecocks will next battle Clemson on Wednesday after falling to the Tigers, 12-2. USC maintains the lead this season, winning the other two contests. The game will be at Sarge Frye Field and will begin at 7 p.m. After the midweek game, USC will travel to Tuscaloosa for a three game series against the Crimson Tide beginning Friday. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc. edu ■ DEFENSE Continued from page 12 for an 11-yard loss, Hall’s only tackle of the day. The Garnet team had the day’s leader in tackles in senior linebacker Lance Laury, who finished with five tackles, four unassisted. Behind Laury on the stat sheet was senior linebacker Terrell Davis, who finished with 4 1-2 tackles, including taking part in a tackle for a loss. Sophomores Jordin Lindsay and Chris Hampton finished with half a tackle for a loss. The Black team was led in tackles by junior cornerback Jerod June. June was limited in playing time last season because of a thumb injury that required surgery but showed flashes of brilliance Saturday, finishing with four tackles and two pass breakups. Behind June was recently returning sophomore Josh Johnson, who left the program in I 2003, only to return this season. Johnson’s 3 1-2 tackles during the game were good enough for second-best on the Black squad. The defense’s highlight of the day came late in the second quarter, with the Garnet team attempting to add to its 10-3 lead. Following the Doughty sack, Heffner hit freshman receiver Grayson Mullins for a 12-yard gain to the 33-yard line. A pass to junior receiver Syvelle Newton went wild and hit sophomore defensive back Ty Erving right in the chest as he returned the pick 37 yards to the 5-yard line, setting up a Cory Boyd touchdown run to tie things up. The defense also stood strong around the goal line, holding the offense out of the end zone more than half a dozen times during the game, including a stand by the Garnet defense to force a field goal in the fourth period. “I thought our guys competed out there today,” Thompson said. “This spring we made a lot of KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK New co-defensive coordinators John Thompson and Tyrone Nix will lead USC’s defense. Offense will be headed by John Hunt. progress. Even with the progress, Spurrier was quick to point out that kickoff with Central Florida was still a long way away. “We have a good team,” Spurrier said. How good? I don t know. Hopefully this isn’t what our team will be like on Sept. 1.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksportMgimn.se. edu NOT SO SOFTBALL NICK ESARES/THE GAMECOCK Freshman pitcher Kate Pouliot prepares to fire a pitch in Sunday’s series finale against Alabama. The Tiqle swept Carolina in the three-game series by scores of 11-Q, 7-1 and 9-2. ■ OFFENSE Continued from page 12 “They both looked real good and that’s what we need is competition,” Goddard said. “They both want to start and play so that’s a good thing going on.” BACKS AND RECEIVERS COMPETE FOR TIME While signal callers get all the headlines, other players shined on offense for the Gamecocks on Saturday. Hill and Rice proved they are ready to shine in the ol’ ball coach’s offense, as Hill brought in five catches for 100 yards, and Rice gathered three balls for 65 yards receiving. The low point in Saturday’s festivities came late in the first half when junior receiver Noah Whiteside went down with a leg injury and was in obvious pain as he was carried off the field. No definite timetable for his return has been established. t At the running back position, things looked fairly promising for Carolina. Junior running back Cory Boyd appeared to he fully KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK Senior running back Daccus Turman barrels in fora Garnet team touchdown in the first quarter of Saturday’s Garnet and Black game. Turman rushed for 44 yards in the first half of the contest. recovered rrom a hamstring injury he suffered earlier this spring. He had nine carries for 34 yards and a TD, while senior Daccus Turman had nine carries in the first half and gained 44 yards. 1 he new orrense will continue to perfect itself as the team moves into voluntary summer workouts. Comments on this story? E-rnatl gamecocksports@gumt.se. edu THEHteAMECOCK www. daily gamecock, com i’ )