MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team just wrapped up its third week of fall drills. The Jaguars have three intrasquad games remaining before the opening game of the annual Red-Blue Series.

USA will intrasquad at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by a 3:30 p.m. first pitch on Friday and an 11 a.m. first pitch on Saturday. The final intrasquad prior to the start of the Red-Blue Series is scheduled for Tue., Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m at Stanky Field.

Cam Cummings leads all hitters in batting average (.390) and on-base percentage (.490), and is tied for the most walks (9). Brendan Donovan and Jared Barnes share the team lead in hits (17) and doubles (6). Donovan also leads the squad in triples (2) and RBI (12), and is tied with Carter Perkins, Will Luft, Drew LaBounty, Dylan Hardy, Eddie Paparella and Andrew Cash. Travis Swaggerty and Colton Thomas share the team lead with six stolen bases apiece.

"The fall, so far, has been very productive," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "I think this has been our best fall since we've been here. I think the late start has worked out really well for us; some guys were much more ready to go out and compete in a game physically than they would have been had we started in late September. They were given more time for conditioning in the weight room. We have avoided some of those nagging injuries and issues that can arise in the fall. So we have had our guys healthy, and therefore can go out and have better practices and intrasquad games. From that standpoint it has been really good. We have had a chance to give them a lot of information and also stay out of the way and watch them play. 

"Here we are through week three and we have two weeks left. It has been a motivated group. One of the hard things is you have to fight boredom in the fall; once that initial excitement wears off after about the second or third week they get tired of playing intrasquads. This group understands that it is more than just going out there and playing intrasquad games. They are going out there trying to jell as a team and see who fits where and in what roles, if any can be determined through intrasquad. Our guys have approached practice and intrasquads in a very professional and productive manner. I have been really excited with the effort these guys have given, their focus and attention to detail. As a coaching staff, we have been very pleased with it."

Two Jaguars – Alex Adair and Randy Bell – have not allowed a run in multiple appearances. Adair has recorded a team-best 14 strikeouts against two walks in 11 innings pitched during his eight relief appearances. Bell has struck out eight and not issued a walk in nine innings, and allowed only two hits in those five appearances.

Four additional Jaguar hurlers boast an ERA of 1.00 or better. Left-hander Thomas Huston has struck out 12 and issued two walks in 10 2/3 innings pitched, and has a 0.84 ERA in seven appearances. Right-hander Matt Peacock has recorded a 0.90 ERA in his six appearances, and has struck out 13 batters against five walks in 10 innings pitched. Jordan Schmits has allowed just one earned run in nine innings pitched for a 1.00 ERA, and Harrison Spruiell has struck out 11 batters and issued six walks in nine innings, and has also posted a 1.00 ERA in five appearances.

"There are some things on the bases that we need to work on," Calvi said. "From a defensive standpoint it has been pretty good. We have some versatile guys and we are moving them around, so the next two weeks will be really good because you have guys like (Brendan) Donovan playing third and first (base), Will Luft pitches and plays all of the infield positions and Hunter Stokes moving around at third, shortstop and first base, just to name a few. The games have been good just for guys to be put in game situations that they will be put in during the spring defensively. From that standpoint, intrasquads have been really productive. We had five freshmen and sophomores playing every day last year, and to see them improve and close some holes in their swings or some pitches they struggled with – they have gotten some good work from that standpoint. Our pitchers have done a nice job, and we're trying some guys in some short spurts to see if they have better stuff in an one-inning outing as opposed to three innings. It's also good to have versatile pitchers as well – guys who can start, go in long relief and short relief. I think we have some of those guys. Those are some of the questions that I don't know if we have answered yet, but we are taking in more information. But the effort, focus and attention has been outstanding and we have been very pleased as a coaching staff."

USA will hold the annual Red-Blue Series Nov. 18-20 at Stanky Field. Game one is scheduled for Fri., Nov. 18, at 3:30 p.m. Game two will begin at 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 19, and the series finale is scheduled for an 11 a.m. first pitch on Sun., Nov. 20.

"The support from our fans this fall has been fantastic, and our players see it and know it," Calvi said. "Our guys know that they are people up there who care and are coming out to watch. We probably had 300-400 people out here watching on our alumni weekend. Yesterday we probably had 30 people out to watch on a Monday. I think that has added a little extra excitement and kept guys more focused. It has been really good. We tell our players that baseball is a big deal here. The blueprint for this program had been laid down a long time ago, and we're trying to maintain that and build upon it. There are a lot of people who care and are watching. Baseball is a big deal here, and we tell them (student-athletes) that on the recruiting side of it. There are some games where we will put 3,000-4,000 people in the stands; there's a reason why the stadium is so big because people come out and watch. Would I like to average 2,000 people per game? Yes, I would like to and think we need to do a better job with that. 

"When you win, that creates some excitement. Coming off of a regional year last season and having a lot of kids back off that team creates some excitement with your fan base and inside your program. There are a lot of good things going on in this program; our players know it and I think our fans know it. We're trying our best to put the best product on the field and win as many games as we can for them, and make them excited and proud of their baseball program and University."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).