Game Notes

South Alabama (0-0) vs. Eastern Illinois (0-0)
Feb. 17-19, 2017 • Stanky Field • Mobile, Ala.

Game 1 - Fri., Feb. 17 - 6:30 p.m.
Game 2 - Sat., Feb. 18 - 2 p.m.
Game 3 - Sun., Feb. 19 - 1 p.m.

Media Information
On the Radio:  Jaguar baseball games are broadcast live in Mobile on 99.5 FM The Jag, and also available via the iHeartRadio app.

Live Streaming:  All three games will be streamed live and available for free through JagNationTV.com.

Live Stats:  Live stats for every South Alabama baseball game are available through the multimedia section of USAJaguars.com.

Twitter:  Follow the official Twitter account of South Alabama baseball — @SouthALBaseball — for news and updates throughout the season.

The Coaches
USA:  Mark Calvi 
Record at USA: 167-129 (Sixth season)
Career Record:  Same
Record vs. EIU:  First meeting

EIU:  Jason Anderson 
Record at EIU:  15-39 (Second season)
Career Record:  Same
Record vs. USA:  First meeting

Probable Starting Pitchers
Fri., Feb. 17
USA - RHP  Randy Bell (0-0)
EIU - RHP  Brendon Allen (0-0)

Sat., Feb. 18
USA - LHP  Zach Melton (0-0)
EIU - RHP  Michael McCormick (0-0)

Sun., Feb. 19
USA - RHP  Will Eiland (0-0)
EIU - RHP  Dustin Wilson (0-0)

All-Time Series
South Alabama holds a 6-1 all-time lead over Eastern Illinois in a series that dates back to 1977 ... The Jags swept a pair of midweek games from EIU in 2004 at Stanky Field, which marked the last meeting between the schools ... USA won the series finale in '04, which lasted four hours and 10 minutes, by a final score of 25-24 ... Former Jaguar second baseman Josh Touchstone homered three times in that contest.

Jag Notes
• Shortstop Drew LaBounty and outfielder Travis Swaggerty were each named preseason all-Sun Belt Conference. Last season, Swaggerty was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, making him the 11th in the program's history, and LaBounty was voted first-team all-SBC. LaBounty led the SBC and ranked sixth nationally in walks (59), ranked second in the league in on-base percentage (.444), sacrifice flies (7) and total plate appearances (286), fourth in stolen bases (14), seventh in runs scored (47) and tied for eighth in RBI (43). Swaggerty ranked second in the conference in walks (42), stolen bases (20) and steal attempts (31), third in on-base percentage (.431) and tied for seventh in runs scored (47).

• Right-hander Randy Bell ranked third in the SBC in opposing batting average (.212), fourth in ERA (2.45), tied for fifth in wins (7), sixth in runs allowed (29), eighth in innings pitched (88.1), tied for eighth in earned runs allowed (24) and tited for ninth in fewest walks issued (20). He tossed a team-best five complete games, which ranked eighth nationally, and was named to the SBC All-Tournament Team. In his last four appearances of the season, he allowed just five earned runs and struck out 20 batters in 30 2/3 innings pitched while tossing consecutive complete games to close the year which came at the SBC Tournament and NCAA Tallahassee (Fla.) Regional.

• Third baseman Brendan Donovan begins the season with a career-long six-game hitting streak after hitting safely in each of the Jaguars' final six contests of 2016.

• USA has won 11 of its last 12 season openers at Stanky Field dating back to 2001. The Jags are 32-20 all-time in season openers, and are 29-7 when opening the season at home. USA defeated Evansville 5-4 in last year's season opener at Stanky Field. South Alabama is 3-2 in season openers under head coach Mark Calvi. 

• South Alabama set a program record for single-season fielding percentage (.979) last year, which led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 10th nationally.

• USA led the SBC in walks (330), stolen bases (107), sacrifice flies (32) and stolen bases per game (1.67). The Jags finished the year ranked seventh in the nation in walks, eighth in stolen bases and 16th in stolen bases per game.

• South Alabama won 28 games at Stanky Field last season, which marked the most by a Jaguar team since the 2001 squad went 31-3 at home. 

Scouting EIU
Eastern Illinois returns 17 letterwinners, but must replace six starters from last year's squad that finished 15-39 overall and 8-22 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Panthers return eight pitchers, including two starters, from a 2016 staff that finished with a 7.38 ERA. Friday starter Brendon Allen went 2-16 in 15 appearances, 13 of which were starts last season, and posted a 7.21 ERA with 70 strikeouts against 35 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched. Right-hander Michael McCormick, the scheduled Saturday starter for the Panthers, went 2-6 in 15 appearances with 10 starts last season while recording 39 strikeouts to 33 walks in 54 1/3 innings.