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No. 25 Vanderbilt Baseball to Host No. 6 South Carolina in Weekend Series 4/1/2004
No. 25 Vanderbilt Baseball to Host No. 6 South Carolina in Weekend Series NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time in school history, a pair of nationally ranked teams will meet in a weekend series at Charles Hawkins Field when No. 25 Vanderbilt plays host to No. 6 South Carolina. At 20-5, Vanderbilt is off to its best start since 1972 and is currently riding a six-game winning streak. South Carolina enters with a 21-4 mark but has dropped four of its last six after opening the season with 18 consecutive victories. Vanderbilt is tied for second in the SEC East at 3-3, while USC is currently sitting in a three-way tie for fourth at 2-4. Vanderbilt enters the weekend fifth in the SEC with a .327 batting average, sixth with a 3.35 ERA and fourth with a .973 fielding percentage. In SEC games, the Commodores rank third in hitting at .319, fifth in ERA at 3.83 and fifth in fielding at .972. Vanderbilt is lead by second baseman Warner Jones (.534-5-40). Jones leads the conference in hitting, RBI, doubles (15), on-base percentage (.559) and is riding a 32-game hitting streak. Designated hitter Mike Baxter (.357-2-24) is second on the team in hitting and has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in batting (.348), earned run average (2.45) and fielding percentage (.980), but in two weekends of conference play, USC is fourth in hitting (.313), seventh in ERA (5.00) and first in fielding (.982). Third baseman Steve Pearce (.417-12-33) leads the Gamecocks in batting average, home runs and has a .875 slugging percentage. Preseason All-America catcher Landon Powell (.402-6-32) is second on the team in hitting and had an 18-game hitting streak earlier this season. He has also thrown out eight of 14 would-be base stealers. South Carolina leads the all-time series — which dates back to 1992 when the Gamecocks entered the SEC — 33-6. USC swept the regular season series in Columbia last year and claimed a 3-2 victory in the SEC Tournament. Tickets are still available for all three games but those fans wishing to buy tickets at the Hawkins Field box office are encouraged to arrive early. Vanderbilt officials expect similar crowds to the ones for last weekend’s series with Georgia, which saw standing room only attendance on Friday and Saturday. Vanderbilt-South Carolina Weekend Schedule (with probable starting pitchers): Saturday, 2:06 p.m. CST — FOX Sports Net South Sunday, 1:06 p.m. CST |
