MOBILE, Ala. – The guest for this week's edition of "Inside JagNation" — the official podcast of the University of South Alabama Department of Athletics — is Brendan Donovan, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament on Sunday while helping the Jaguars to the title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional.

Donovan was honored after going 7-for-16 (.438) at the plate with two doubles, a pair of home runs and six RBI in three games as South claimed its first SBC Tournament championship since 2005.  He was 3-for-5 with two homers and four RBI in a 9-1 victory over rival Troy in the quarterfinals, while in the title game Donovan recorded three hits in six at bats including the game-winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Jags defeated host Georgia Southern, 7-6.

For the year, the sophomore from Enterprise, Ala., is batting .338 with 17 doubles, nine home runs and 46 runs batted in, and has scored 49 runs while stealing eight bases in 11 attempts.  Donovan has recorded more walks (38) than strikeouts (25) at the plate in posting a .445 on-base percentage, and he has also put together a .577 slugging percentage; the outfielder stands among the top 10 in the league in eight categories including batting average, runs scored, doubles, RBI, walks, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Named a Louisville Slugger High School All-American by Collegiate Baseball following his senior season at Enterprise High, Donovan appeared in 62 contests for the Jags as a freshman, hitting .293 with seven doubles, three triples, 27 RBI, 34 runs and six stolen bases.

Click here for Episode 43 of "Inside JagNation"

In this edition of the weekly podcast, Donovan walks listeners through the final at bat of the SBC Tournament, whether or not the game-winning single is the biggest hit of his baseball career to date and the emotions he and the Jaguars went through over the final couple of innings.  He also explains what he thinks has been the key to USA's 23-6 record since a three-game sweep at Louisiana-Monroe in April and what it will take for the program to experience success in the regional.

Donovan talks about when and why he started playing the game, his recruitment by the Jaguar coaching staff, and which former Jag helped him improve upon his performance as a freshman as well.  Other topics of the podcast include his summer league baseball plans, thoughts on potentially being drafted next summer, what he wants to do when his playing career is finished and what it was like growing up in a military family.

Click here for "Inside JagNation" archives

Individuals interested in downloading previous episodes of "Inside JagNation" can conduct a search on iTunes for "South Alabama Jaguars."

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).

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