News digest, March 13

Owls name ex-Gamecock Bangs interim coach

Former University of  South Carolina player Parker Bangs has been named interim head coach at Rice after the school parted ways with head coach Jose Cruz Jr., a former star player for the Owls.

Rice was off to a 2-14 start. Bangs is in his third season as pitching coach at the Houston school. He previously was on staff at Presbyterian and Davidson.

Bangs was a member of USC's 2010 National Championship team. He had a 7-5 record and struck out 94 in 74 2/3 innings. He also hit .301 with 21 doubles, 10 homers and 60 RBI as a DH and pinch-hitter.

Weekend series previews/notes

* Clemson at home vs. Notre Dame

* College of Charleston at home vs. Dartmouth

* Presbyterian at Winthrop

* The Citadel at home vs. Kennesaw State

* South Carolina at home vs. Oklahoma

* USC Upstate at home vs. Radford

* Winthrop at home vs. Presbyterian

* Wofford at Elon

Teams adjust schedules

Several teams have adjusted their weekend schedules - some of them over weather concerns.
* Benedict's series at Savannah State will start at noon Saturday (DH) and Sunday (one game).

* Bob Jones has added a second Saturday game against Alice Lloyd in their Battle of the Smokies appearance in the Tri-Cities area in east Tennessee. The teams play once at 1 p.m. Friday and twice beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.  I've seen both Johnson City and Kingsport listed as the games' site. We'll see.
* North Greenville's home series with Barton is now scheduled a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and a 1 p.m. game on Saturday.

* Southern Wesleyan's home series with Erskine is now set for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Friday and one game at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

* USC Lancaster's Region 10 home series with USC Union will be a single game at noon Friday and a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.