April 18, 2008

University, MS (UWIRE) -- A pair of top-20 teams will meet for a crucial SEC series in Columbia, S.C. as No.16 Ole Miss travels to No.10 South Carolina.

Each team sits at 9-6, and are tied for second in the overall SEC standings.

The Gamecocks are riding a five game winning streak after sweeping Auburn and picked up mid-week wins over Clemson and USC upstate.

South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner said he thinks the Rebels belong with the elite in the country.

"This weekend we are facing a team that I certainly thought going into the season could be as good as anybody in the country, and that evaluation hasn't changed," Tanner said. "Ole Miss is really really good offensively, defensively, and the pitching staff has some mind boggling numbers down there. It is a very difficult team to try to match-up with.

The Gamecocks might be without starting left fielder Andrew Crisp who aggravated an offseason back injury over the weekend after a collision at home plate against Auburn. Tanner said an MRI was needed to determine his availability, but he did not expect him to play. Crisp is hitting .309 with one home run and 14 RBI.

Ole Miss will be without starting center fielder Michael Guerrero. The junior did not play Tuesday against Mississippi State and is not on the traveling roster this weekend. Guerrero has a stress fracture in his foot and will be out two to three weeks.

An explosive South Carolina offense is paced by lead-off hitter junior short stop Reese Havens who is hitting .401 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. Havens has emerged offensively after a summer in the Cape Cod league.

"Reese since day one as a freshman has been an integral part of this team," Tanner said. "He played great defense even as a freshman, and was a guy who got instant respect and credibility from day one just because of the way he works, and the way he plays the game. This year has been different because of his offensive output. He expected to do better offensively his first two years, but in the Cape Cod league this summer it started to click for him."

Havens is one of four Gamecocks with double-digit home runs as they lead the SEC with 70 on the year. First baseman Justin Smoak and catcher Phillip Disher each have 13 home runs, and third baseman James Darnell has 12.

Lance Lynn (5-0) will take the mound Friday for Ole Miss, while Mike Cisco (4-1) will throw for the Gamecocks.

Saturday, freshman Drew Pomeranz (3-1) will start for the Rebels and Will Atwood (4-1) will throw for South Carolina. The Sunday pitching matchup will feature Ole Miss' Cody Satterwhite (3-2) and South Carolina's Blake Cooper (4-3).

Tanner said his pitching staff might not be over-powering, but they are effective.

"Those guys have been consistent for us and they have battled. It is certainly not an imposing rotation, but it is a group that knows how to pitch. They're going to battle, and sometimes it doesn't go exactly the way we want it to, in most cases they have kept us in games and given us the chance to win. They are not overpowering, but they know how to pitch and will throw three to four pitches to keep people in check."

First pitch Friday is scheduled for 5 p.m. Central time.

(C) 2008 Daily Mississippian via UWIRE