Great Danes Conclude Day Two at FGCU Invitational

 

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- The University at Albany softball team dropped two at the FGCU/LaQuinta Inn at the Airport Spring Break Invitational. The losses came against Michigan State University of the Big Ten, 3-1, and reigning Atlantic Sun champions and tournament host, Florida Gulf Coast University, 6-0. UAlbany will match-up against the University of Minnesota tomorrow, their second meeting in three days, before concluding their 2013 tournament-opener.

The Great Danes began Saturday’s action against the Spartans. Brittany MacFawn was given the nod for UAlbany against MSU’s Kelly Smith. The right-handed junior was coming off a complete game performance yesterday against Villanova.

MacFawn started strong – keeping Michigan State off the board for the first four innings. She left three Spartan runners in scoring position in the first two innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, UAlbany (0-4) took their first lead of the early 2013 season off the bat of sophomore Marlin Solano. The inning started with junior Lauren Alcorn connecting for a single up the middle. Two straight successful bunts put pinch-runner Kelly Costello on third base. She scored off a sac-fly by Solano to put the Great Danes up 1-0. It was her first RBI of the season.

MacFawn’s scoreless streak was brought to an end in the fifth inning. Michigan State (7-4) strung together two straight singles to begin the inning. After bringing one home, Jayme O’Bryant gave MSU their first lead of the game, 3-1. She stepped up to the plate with two outs and hit a two-run double.

That would be the only scoring the Spartans would need to seal the victory. UAlbany was put down one-two-three in the final two innings. Smith went the distance in the victory. She allowed three hits and one earned run, striking out four. MacFawn (0-2) recorded her second straight complete game. She scattered six hits over six innings, allowing three earned runs and strikeout out three.

In game two, sophomore Emily Ostrom hit the mound for UAlbany. She was matched up against FGCU’s Shelby Morgan. Ostrom (0-2) has converted to a starting pitching role this season. She made her collegiate debut on the mound yesterday against the Golden Gophers.

After three scoreless innings, the Eagles found the scoreboard. Regan Knapik singled to center field, driving in two. After adding one in the fifth, FGCU (6-4) opened things up in final inning. Chelsea Zgrabik slugged a homer to left field, scoring two. The dinger gave the Eagles the 6-0 win.

Sophomore Vicky McFarland and Costello each recorded a hit for the Great Danes. Ostorm went the distance. She allowed seven hits, six earned runs and walked four. UAlbany left five runners on base and were 3-7 on advancement opportunities.

UAlbany will conclude action at the FGCU Invitational tomorrow. They play Minnesota at 9:00 a.m. Tournament play will continue next weekend when the Great Danes head to the Coastal Carolina Tournament.

Super DIRTcar Series Star Hearn Wins Thrilling Florida Finale

Last Race of UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment Keeps Fans on Their Feet

BARBERVILLE, FLA. - February 24, 2013 - When Brett Hearn wins, he wins with style. His victory yesterday at the Super DIRTcar Series UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment finale was nothing short.

Not only did Big Block Modified legend Hearn usurp the lead in lap 49 of the 50-lapper, but he also did so after a lap-35 flat in took him from the lead to the tail of the field.

"At that point, the crew had a really dejected look on their faces," Hearn recalled pulling up to his pit crew for a tire change. "They were changing the right rear tire, and I'm thinking, they think I don't have a chance."

Nonetheless, Hearn worked his magic, navigating to second place off a lap-45 restart and, in a stunning last-lap lead change, passed Mario Clair on the back straightaway to take the win.

"I knew that if I was going to pass him I had to go on the inside and nail a really good turn - stay low in the middle of (turn) two and then get ahold of a shot off the backstretch and move up on him a little bit," Hearn said. "I could run that lap over in my mind a hundred times."

Hearn started the race in tenth with H.J. Bunting III taking the lead off the initial green. Stewart Friesen passed Bunting in lap two and, by lap 15, Friesen was darting between lapped cars with Hearn at his back bumper.

In lap 20, Hearn cruised past Friesen on the backstretch, continuing to tenaciously maneuver lapped cars for 15 more green laps. "The Jet" was so persistent, in fact, that when he reached Pete Britten and Eric Kormann racing two-wide, he never slowed to let one pull to the side - he sped between the two, nearly touching the sides of both as he passed. That daring maneuver cost him a tire.

"I thought I'd get through the hole and I didn't quite fit, but maybe bent the wheel or scuffed the side wall," Hearn said. "I probably should have been a little more patient at that point."

The timing worked out for Hearn, with the tire giving at the turn-four pit entrance, allowing him to steer to the pit crew without further damaging the car. The crew worked quickly through the lap-35 caution, sending Hearn back to the track before the green. Having lapped more than half the field when he was in the lead, Hearn was able to restart tenth as the last lead-lap car.

"Right off the get-go, I had a fresh tire and passed five or six cars on the first lap," Hearn said of the lap-35 restart. "Before I knew it, I was a contender again."

For Clair, who gained the lead when Hearn pitted for a tire change, Hearn's last-lap challenge was not a surprise.

"I had a really fast car tonight, but when I saw Brett Hearn on the scoreboard in third I knew that his was the fastest car here," said Francophone Clair via a translator. "I'm really happy with our performance here the last four days."

With a sixth-place finish, Danny Johnson topped the Super DIRTcar Series competitors in points for the week, taking home the prized UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment gator trophy.

"We're really excited to get that big gator. The championship means a lot to the race team and myself, so it's just a really cool situation for us all," Johnson said, although he would have liked to have made it to victory lane, and was in contention for the lead for much of the race. "As long as we could get a good finish and get the championship, that was really important to us."

Justin Haers, of Phelps, N.Y., finished third after running in second for most of the race and very nearly passing Clair on the first of two lap-45 restarts. Friesen started fourth, made his way to the lead early, but ended up back at fourth by the time the checked flags waved. After an uncharacteristically poor qualifying round, three-time defending series champion Matt Sheppard started 16^th on the grid, but made his way up to fifth.

Mat Williamson started sixth and finished seventh. Friday's winner Rick Laubach qualified well and was a strong contender for the lead early in the race, but finished eighth. Rich Scagliotta finished ninth and Bunting tenth to round out the top ten.

After a brief hiatus, the Super DIRTcar Series moves back to the Northeast, with the next date scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Elbridge, N.Y. The 60-lapper at Rolling Wheels is the first chance competitors will have to earn points toward the series championship.

For the full Super DIRTcar Series 2013 event schedule, visit www.superdirtcarseries.com/schedule.

UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment

February 23, 2013

Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series

Statistical Report

A-Main (50 laps): 1. 20 Brett Hearn/Sussex, N.J. ($4,000); 2. 22c Mario Clair/St-Edouard, Quebec; 3. 3 Justin Haers/Phelps, N.Y.; 4. 85f Stewart Friesen/Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario; 5. 9s Matt Sheppard/Waterloo, N.Y.; 6. 27J Danny Johnson/Rochester, N.Y.; 7. 6 Mat Williamson/St. Catharines, Ontario; 8. 7 Rick Laubach/Quakertown, Penn.; 9. 8 Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook, N.J.; 10. 85J H.J. Bunting III/Milford, Del.; 11. 21 Pete Britten/Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 12. 8r Rob Bellinger/Cicero, N.Y.; 13. 99 Bruno LaPage/Maplegrove, Quebec; 14. 5 Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station, N.J.; 15. T21 Randy Chrysler/Lewiston, N.Y.; 16. 5* Tyler Siri/Corning, N.Y.; 17. 1 Darwin Greene/Susquehanna, Penn.; 18. 29 Chris Ostrowsky/Conklin, N.Y.; 19. 48T Dave Rauscher/Waterloo, N.Y.; 20. 79 Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis, N.Y.; 21. 49 Francois Bernier/St-Hyacinthe, Quebec; 22. 85 Dan Vauter/Clifford, Penn.; 23. 34B Andy Bachetti/Sheffield, Mass.; 24. 97 Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile-de-Milton, Quebec; 25. 10 Billy VanInwegen/Sparrowbush, N.Y.; 26. 901 Eric Kormann/Vineland, N.J.; 27. 30 Jamie Mills/Milford, Del.; 28. 323 Neal Williams/Pittsgrove, N.J.; DNS: 14 C.G. Morey; 64 Daniel Nadeau; 66w Dexter Stacey; 88 Dave Allen; 518 Kyle Sheldon; Roger Chrysler

Lap Leaders:

Bunting (1-2)

Friesen (3-20)

Hearn (21-34, 50)

Clair (35-49)

B-Main 1: 1. 85 Dan Vauter; 2. 48too Dave Rauscher; 3. T21 Randy Chrysler; 4. 79 Jeremy Markle; 5. 88 David Allen; 6. 30 Jamie Mills; DNS: 64 Daniel Nadeau

B-Main 2: 1. 5* Tyler Siri; 2. 29 Chris Ostrowsky; 3. 99 Bruno LaPage; 4. 14 C.G. Morey; 5. 518 Kyle Sheldon; 6. 66w Dexter Stacey; DNS: T21 Roger Chrysler

Qualifying heats (8 laps, top 2 to redraw, top 5 qualify)

Heat 1: 1. 85f Stewart Friesen; 2. 85J H.J. Bunting III; 3. 22c Mario Clair; 4. 8r Rob Bellinger; 5. 1 Darwin Greene; 6. 21K Randy Chrysler; 7. 88 Dave Allen; 8. 85 Dan Vauter; 9. 64 Daniel Nadeau

Heat 2: 1. 7 Rich Laubach; 2. 323 Neal Williams; 3. 20 Brett Hearn; 4. 34B Andy Bachetti; 5. 5 Jimmy Horton; 6. 48too Dave Rauscher; 7. 30 Jamie Mills; 8. 79 Jeremy Markle; 9. 99 Bruno LaPage

Heat 3: 1. 10 Billy VanInwegen; 2. 3 Justin Haers; 3. 8 Rich Scagliotta; 4. 901 Eric Kormann; 5. 97 Michel Chicoine; 6. 29 Chris Ostrowsky; 7. 14 C.G. Morey; 8. 518 Kyle Sheldon

Heat 4: 1. 6 Mat Williamson; 2. 27J Danny Johnson; 3. 49 Francois Bernier; 4. 9s Matt Sheppard; 5. 21a Pete Britten; 6. 5* Tyler Siri; 7. T21 Roger Chrysler; 8. 66w Dexter Stacey

Time Trials: 1. 3 Justin Haers, 17.393; 2. 7 Rick Laubach, 17.415; 2. 323 Neal Williams, 17.484; 3. Brett Hearn, 17.505; 4. Mat Williamson, 17.584; 5. 30 Jamie Mills, 17.594; 6. 85f Stewart Friesen 17.596; 7. 49 Francois Bernier, 17.597; 8. H. J. Bunting III, 17.658; 9. 9s Matt Sheppard, 17.690; 10. 48too Dave Rauscher, 17.704; 11. 5 Jimmy Horton, 17.711; 12. Billy VanInwegen, 17.747; 13. 34B Andy Bachetti, 17.765; 14. 27J Danny Johnson, 17.847; 15. 901 Eric Kormann, 17.877; 16. 22c Mario Clair, 17.968; 17. 8 Rich Scagliotta, 17.977; 18. 21a Pete Britten, 18.029; 19. 5* Tyler Siri, 18.070; 20. 8r Rob Bellinger, 18.078; 21. 79 Jeremy Markle, 18.227; 22. 1 Darwin Greene, 18.218; 23. Bruno LaPage, 18.265; 24. 29 Chris Ostrowsky, 18.265; 25. 518 Kyle Sheldon, 18.312; 26. 97 Michel Chicoine, 18.352; 27. 21K Randy Chrysler, 18.450; 28. 14 C. G. Morey, 18.506; 29. 85 Dan Vauter, 18.567; 30. 88 Dave Allen, 18.601; 31. T21 Roger Chrysler, 18.837; 32. 64 Daniel Nadeau, 19.311; 33. 66w Dexter Stacey, 19.735

UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit Racing Equipment Points

	POINTS	CAR#	DRIVER / HOMETOWN
1	224	27J	Danny Johnson/Rochester,NY
2	212	85F	Stewart Friesen/Niagara-on-the-Lake,ONT
3	200	21a	Peter Britten/Brisbane, AUS
4	198	3	Justin Haers/Phelps, NY
5	198	7	Rick Laubach/Quakertown,PA
6	197	20	Brett Hearn/Sussex,NJ
7	183	9s	Matt Sheppard/Waterloo,NY
8	176	22c	Mario Clair/St-Edouard,QUE
9	173	85J	H.J. Bunting III/Milford,DE
10	138	5	Jimmy Horton/Neshanic Station,NJ
11	129	49	Francois Bernier/St-Hyacinthe/QUE
12	125	85	Dan Vauter/Clifford,PA
13	124	21k	Randy Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
14	123	323	Neal Williams/Pittsgrove, NJ
15	117	8r	Rob Bellinger/Dexter,NY
16	115	6	Mat Williamson/St. Catharines, ONT
17	102	10J	Alan Johnson/Middlesex,NY
18	98	8	Rich Scagliotta/Bound Brook,NJ
19	95	34B	Andy Bachetti/Sheffield,MA
20	95	74	Tim Fuller/Edwards, NY
21	92	10	Billy VanInwegen/Sparrowbush,NY
22	88	1	Darwin Greene/Susquehanna,PA
23	84	901	Eric Kormann/Vineland, NJ
24	80	99	Bruno LePage/Maplegrove, QUE
25	76	30	Jamie Mills/Milford,DE
26	67	29	Chris Ostrowsky/Conklin, NY
27	66	79	Jeremy Markle/Port Jervis,NY
28	64	48too	Dave Rauscher/Waterloo,NY
29	60	97	Michel Chicoine/Ste-Cecile-de-Milton,QUE
30	57	5*	Tyler Siri/Corning, NY
31	57	42b	Kevin Bates/Lake Ariel, PA
32	55	T21	Roger Chrysler/Lewiston,NY
33	52	88	David Allen/Palymra, NY
34	50	518	Kyle Sheldon/Nassau, NY
35	50	34	Steve Hough/East Greenbush, NY
36	40	14	C.G. Morey/Rutland, VT
37	40	64	Daniel Nadeau/Marieville, QUE
38	10	66w	Dexter Stacey/Kahnawake,QUE

UAlbany And Fairfield Meet For the First Time In Saturday's BracketBuster

1. BracketBuster Weekend The 11th annual Ramada Worldwide Bracket Buster, a two-day men's college basketball event pitting potential NCAA Championship hopefuls against each other will take place this weekend, Feb. 22-23. The University at Albany is one of two teams selected from the America East Conference to participate. In total, 122 teams from 15 conferences will compete. The Great Danes travel to play Fairfield on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. in Bridgeport, Conn.

2. UAlbany BracketBuster History This is the fifth time the Great Danes have been featured in the BracketBuster. They are 1-3 all-time. The four previous opponents that head coach Will Brown and the men's basketball squad have faced were Virginia Commonwealth on Feb. 17, 2006 (L, 70-67), Boise State on Feb. 16, 2007 (L, 83-82), Canisius (L, 64-60) and Rider on Feb. 18, 2012 (W, 70-61).

3. A Strong Sophomore Campaign for Great Dane Aussie Sophomore forward Sam Rowley scored 18 points and recorded eight boards in the Great Danes loss to Boston U. last Wednesday. The Australian forward continues to lead UAlbany in rebounds, 6.5 per game. He also has a team leading 34 steals and is third in blocks with 11. He has four double-double's this season.

4. Black's Back After going through a scoring drought - senior Mike Black has again found himself atop the box scores. Over the last three game's the starting guard has scored a combined 51 points, including 21 in the team's loss against the Terriers. If Black continues at his current pace (15.1 ppg), he will finish his career with the sixth most points in program history.

5. Connecting Behind the Arc UAlbany has connected from behind the arc all season. They currently sit second in conference in 3-point percentage, (.362), only trailing Boston U. (.384). The Great Danes are led in three-point land by graduate guard Jacob Iati. He currently sits second in the conference with 77 made-three's, shooting 41.6 percent (77-185). The fifth-year guard trails only E.J. Gallup, 93, and Matthew Haggarty, 94, in terms of the DI single-season program record record.

UAlbany's Ariana Parker Added To The Tewaaraton Award Watch List

WASHINGTON, D.C - The University at Albany women's lacrosse junior midfielder Ariana Parker has been named to the 2013 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, which was announced by the Tewaaraton Foundation on Friday, Feb. 22. Parker will look to build on her success from her two previous seasons at UAlbany and her resume in the 2013 season to potentially win this prestigious award. The Port Ewen, N.Y. native is climbing the career scoring list at UAlbany, having recorded 83 goals in two seasons to put her 12th all-time. The junior midfielder improved her offensive game from her freshman season to her sophomore season, upping her season point total from 47 (44 goals; 3 assists) to 54 (39 goals; 15 assists). The Tewaaraton Award annually honors the top male and top female college lacrosse player in the United States. The selection committees are made up of top collegiate coaches and are appointed annually by The Tewaaraton Foundation. Committees will make additions to these lists as the season progresses and athletes earn a spot along side these elite players. Both lists will be narrowed to 25 men's and women's nominees in late April. In mid-May, five men's and five women's finalists will be announced. These finalists will be invited to Washington, D.C. for the 13th annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, May 30 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian. Parker and the Great Danes will open the 2013 season against the number three ranked, in both coaches and media poll, University of Florida on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium at 12 p.m.

 

Binghamton Basketball Game Date Change

The game, originally scheduled for Sunday against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, has been moved up a day to beat a snow storm headed into the Durham area. The game is being aired on Fox College Sports or catch the action on News Radio 1290 WNBF. 

SYRACUSE AND PENN STATE OPEN 2013 FOOTBALL SEASON AT METLIFE STADIUM

SYRACUSE AND PENN STATE OPEN 2013 FOOTBALL SEASON AT METLIFE STADIUM

Tickets On Sale Monday, April 22 at 10 AM ET

East Rutherford, N.J. - The Syracuse Orange return to MetLife Stadium to face the Penn State Nittany Lions in New York’s College Classic on Saturday, August 31; game time TBD.

The match-up marks Syracuse’s second of 14 games to be played at MetLife Stadium through 2038 and Penn State’s first return to the Meadowlands in 13 years, when it faced USC in the 2000 Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium. The August game will be the season opener for both universities. This year's meeting was first announced in 2010.

Tickets, which range in price from $75 to $175, go on sale Monday, April 22 at 10 AM ET through Ticketmaster. Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, and at Ticketmaster Retails Outlets.

Tickets will be available at the MetLife Stadium and IZOD Center Box Offices beginning Tuesday, April 23 at 11 AM ET. For Group Sales (15+ tickets), contact 201-460-4370. Suites for the game can be purchased by calling 201-559-1616.

Syracuse will ride the momentum of two bowl victories in the last three years and the 2012 BIG EAST co-Championship into the Atlantic Coast Conference. First-year head coach Scott Shafer welcomes back 12 starters, including five on offense and seven on defense, from the 2012 ECAC FBS Team of the Year. The offensive group includes 1,000-yard rusher Jerome Smith, tight end Beckett Wales and three of five starting linemen in center Macky MacPherson, guard Rob Trudo and tackle Sean Hickey. On defense, Markus Pierce-Brewster and Jay Bromley return to anchor the line, while linebackers Marquis Spruill and Dyshawn Davis, cornerbacks Keon Lyn and Ri’Shard Anderson and free safety Jeremi Wilkes will provide Shafer’s defense, which ranked sixth nationally in tackles for a loss in 2012, with veteran experience.

The Orange closed its tenure in the BIG EAST with a 38-14 victory against West Virginia in the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The game also marked the conclusion of head coach Doug Marrone’s four years as the leader at his alma mater, as the 1991 Syracuse graduate moved to the National Football League to coach the Buffalo Bills. The 2012 Orange offense set multiple school records, including total offense yards (6,188), total yards per game (476.0), total plays (1,028), passing yards (3,757), passing yards per game (289.0), completions (295), pass attempts (473) and first downs (328), and touchdown (26).

“We look forward to starting our 2013 season by rekindling an age-old rivalry against a prestigious Penn State program,” said Syracuse Football Coach Scott Shafer. “It is a great opportunity for us to kick off the three-game series with the Nittany Lions in front of one of our largest alumni fan bases at MetLife Stadium.”

Penn State returns 16 starters and 38 letterwinners for the 2013 season. Among the Nittany Lions' returnees are three first-team All-Big Ten honorees: tight end Kyle Carter, wide receiver Allen Robinson and guard John Urschel, as well as defensive end Deion Barnes, the conference's 2012 Freshman of the Year. Robinson was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year after breaking the Penn State season record with 77 receptions, good for 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Barnes and Carter were consensus first-team Freshman All-Americans. Urschel graduated with a 4.0 grade point average prior to his junior season and was a 2012 first-team Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America® honoree.

In his first season as head coach, Bill O’Brien led Penn State to wins in eight of its final 10 games, beating eventual Big Ten champion Wisconsin on Senior Day to finish 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten. O'Brien was the 2012 Bear Bryant, Maxwell Football Club and ESPN National Coach of the Year and the Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year. O’Brien’s eight wins were the most by a first-year Penn State coach in the 126 years of the program. Linebacker Michael Mauti became Penn State’s 97^th first-team All-America selection and led six Nittany Lions that earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. Senior quarterback Matt McGloin, who broke nine school passing records, won the Burlsworth Trophy, presented the nation’s top player who began his career as a walk-on.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to open the 2013 season in a fantastic venue like MetLife Stadium against Syracuse, a team that Penn State has more than 90 years of tradition with on the football field,” said Bill O’Brien, Penn State Football Coach. “With nearly 30,000 Penn State alumni in the New York-New Jersey metro area, we are looking forward to playing in front of a passionate base of Penn State supporters. It will be exciting for our team to open the 2013 season in the same facility that will end the year by hosting Super Bowl XLVIII."

Syracuse and Penn State met at Giants Stadium once on October 20, 1979, with Penn State taking the win, 35-7. The Nittany Lions are 10-3 overall at Giants Stadium and Syracuse is 5-3. The Orange are 0-1 at MetLife Stadium (vs. USC – 42-29, September 8, 2012).

About MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium (which replaced Giants Stadium), home to the New York Football Giants and New York Jets, sets the standard for venue excellence with state-of-the-art technology, comfort and amenities. The only active venue to serve as the home stadium for two NFL teams, MetLife Stadium hosts 20 NFL games per season, more than any other Stadium.

With a full, game-day seating capacity of 82,500, MetLife Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the National Football League. It boasts numerous dining options and a rail line that drops guests directly at the front door. During its inaugural year in 2010, MetLife Stadium was selected to host Super Bowl XLVIII, and in 2014 the venue will become history’s first open-air venue in a cold-weather region to hold football’s biggest game.

In 2011 MetLife Stadium was ranked No. 1 for safety by Security magazine’s “Security 500” in the Arenas/Stadiums/Leagues/ Entertainment division and for the third consecutive year was cited by Billboard magazine as the highest-grossing stadium in North America (#1 in the World in 2012).

For more information, visit www.metlifestadium.com

Baseball Travels To No. 5 South Carolina For Three

ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany baseball team meets No. 5 South Carolina for the first time in program history, playing a three-game series at Carolina Stadium Feb. 22-24. The SEC powerhouse won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2010 and 2011, and finished 2012 as the nation's runner-up. The Great Danes look to rebound from an 0-2 start at the Ron Fraser Classic, played in Cary, N.C. last weekend. Due to snow, UAlbany's games vs. Toledo, Wright State, and Delaware were cancelled.

MEDIA CENTER
Video: GamecocksOnline.com
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network Flagship WNKT FM 107.5 Columbia
Recap: UAlbanySports.com
Twitter: @UAlbanySports and @DanesBaseball

PITCHING PROBABLES
Friday - 3:30 p.m.
South Carolina - Jordan Montgomery (So. LHP) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 2 BB, 5 SO
UAlbany - Kasceim Graham (Sr. RHP)

Saturday - 1:30 p.m.
South Carolina - Colby Holmes (Sr. RHP) 0-0, 2.84 ERA, 6.1 IP, 2 BB, 4 SO
UAlbany - Derek Zielinski (Sr. RHP) 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 6 SO

Sunday - 1:30 p.m.
South Carolina - Nolan Belcher (Sr. LHP) 0-1, 4.76 ERA, 5.2 IP, 1 BB, 9 SO
UAlbany - Austin Chase (Sr. RHP) 0-1, 15.75 ERA, 4.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Ranked in every college baseball publication in the preseason, South Carolina is No. 5 in the USA Today coaches' poll, and No. 7 in Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The Gamecocks come off a 2-1 series versus Liberty with all three games being decided by a single run. The hosts won the first two contests by scores of 4-3 and 8-7, while dropping the third to Liberty, 3-2.

With a strong lineup, four South Carolina players earned Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball, including sophomore catcher Grayson Greiner, senior left-handed pitcher Tyler Webb, senior right-handed pitcher Col­by Holmes and sophomore left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery. The Great Danes are scheduled to face Montgomery on the mound Friday and Holmes Saturday.

THE COACH: Chad Holbrook (1^st season, North Carolina, '94)
After serving four seasons as associate head coach, Chad Holbrook was promoted to the top spot this past July and enters his first season at the helm. Holbrook came to the Gamecock program in 2008 after serving 15 seasons as a member of the University of North Carolina coaching staff. Holbrook was honored as the 2011 ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year and was named the No. 10 best recruiter in all of college sports by ESPNU & ESPN The Magazine in the publication's 2011 January edition.

UALBANY'S LAST TIME OUT
Expecting a warm southern trip to Cary, N.C. last weekend, the Great Danes ran into snow flurries and inclement weather, forcing the Saturday and Sunday games to be cancelled. UAlbany, originally scheduled to play single games versus Canisius, Toledo, Wright State, and Delaware, ended up playing a doubleheader against the Golden Griffins Friday, knowing the weekend looked bleak. In both games, the Griffs took the lead first and never lost it, as the Great Danes fell 8-2 and 12-4 in the season-opening contests.

LAST TIME VS. RANKED FOE
Facing No. 5/7 South Carolina, the last time the Great Danes took on a ranked opponent was in 2012's season-opening series against No. 12 Miami. Almost exactly a year ago, UAlbany fell to the Hurricanes, 15-4 (2/24), 11-1 (2/25), and 12-5 (2/26).

MADEJ MAKES HIS MARK
Gordon Madej, an America East All-Rookie Team selection in 2012, led UAlbany with a .444 average (4-for-9) with two runs scored against Canisius. Madej also lined an RBI double, while starting both games at shortstop.

GAIGE STREAKING
Carried over from last season, senior centerfielder Nolan Gaige enters the weekend on a six-game hitting streak. Gaige finished 2012 hitting in four straight contests and then tallied one each in the games against Canisius. In addition, Gaige has reached base in 12 consecutive games.
GO THREE!
Nolan Gaige is currently tied for first in UAlbany's record book with 11 career triples. One more and Gaige will become the all-time leader.

MOUND WORK
While UAlbany saw limited innings in the first weekend, the Great Danes pitching staff was given the opportunity to shake the nerves, as seven arms saw action. LeMoyne College transfer Derek Zielinski tossed four innings, allowed six hits, three earned runs, three walks, and struck out six, while taking the loss in his Great Dane debut. Out of the bullpen, junior transfer from Merced College Andrew Jaurique (1.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 H) and freshmen Brendan Ryan (1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Ryan Stinar (2.1 IP, 3 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) also made first appearances in a UAlbany uniform. Returners junior Kevin Archbold, senior Austin Chase, and sophomore Joey Moore also saw time on the hill.

2012 UALBANY SEASON SUMMARY (22-32-1, 16-8 America East)
In 2012, UAlbany earned the No. 2 seed in the America East Championship, recording the highest total league wins in the program's Division I history with a 16-8 record. Seven earned all-conference honors, highlighted by first-teamers Mike Tirri and Nolan Gaige, as Gaige finished the season ranked third in the nation for triples (9). In addition, left-handed pitcher Sean Lucas was chosen in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, marking the highest draft choice from the UAlbany program since 2002, and the eighth player in UAlbany history to be selected.

2013 OUTLOOK
The Great Danes return 20 from a season ago, including eight starting position players. UAlbany added 10 newcomers to the mix, including Derek Zielinski, a redshirt senior transfer from LeMoyne College who is expected to make an immediate impact in the pitching rotation. UAlbany was picked to finish fourth in the America East preseason coaches' poll.

THE COACH: Jon Mueller (14^th season, Eckerd College, '92)
Jon Mueller enters his 14th season as the head coach of the University at Albany baseball program in 2013. The Stillwater, N.Y. native has had proven success as both a player and coach throughout his career. Mueller ranks first among UAlbany's career leaders with 279 coaching victories, and was named the America East Coach of the Year in 2004. He also led the Danes to the program's first America East Conference tournament championship title and NCAA appearance in 2007. Mueller has produced dozens of all-conference standouts and has had six players selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft under his direction, including one in each of the past two seasons.

CAPTAINS
D.J. Hoagboon, Josh Nethaway, Greg Muller, and Jeff Welsh were named team captains for the 2013 baseball season.

ON DECK
UAlbany heads to UNCG to play a three-game series March 1-3 in Greensboro, N.C.