By Matt Long
Posted 11:13 AM Feb 19, 2010
The University of South Carolina baseball team opens its 2010 season Friday afternoon.
The Gamecocks host Duquesne in a 3:00 pm game. Senior pitcher Blake Cooper will get the start for South Carolina against Dukes' right hander Johnny Elms.
South Carolina is hoping to rebound after a disappointing end to 2009. The Gamecocks were knocked out in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament. USC is trying to get back to the College World Series for the first time since 2004.
USC coach Ray Tanner is more excited about the Gamecock prospects for 2010 than he was a year ago.
"The expectations are any different from year to year, but there's a lot more experience right now than there was a year ago," Tanner said. "We hope it means better play, better players, and more wins... there certainly is some security with the experience factor going forward."
Duquesne is playing its final season as a varsity baseball program. The Dukes team learned last month the university not field a team after this season as a cost-cutting measure.
The game is the first of a three-game weekend series. The two teams meet again at 3:00 pm on Saturday and 1:30 pm on Sunday.
Former USC ace Kip Bouknight will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday.
The game will be broadcast in the Midlands on WIS 1320 Radio.
