MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama baseball opens the 2010 season with four games in three days this weekend, beginning Friday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Jackson State in the season opener at Stanky Field. The Jaguars will face a quick turnaround Saturday when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a 2 p.m. contest against Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. USA will then return home to host Alabama at 1:30 p.m.  Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.

"Our guys are really excited to get going and start the season," USA head coach Steve Kittrell said. "We're going to have our hands full with a Jackson State team that won 36 games last season, and this is going to be one of Alabama's better teams. Our pitching staff will have its hands full this early in the year.

"I think Alabama is going to be much more aggressive on the bases, and Jackson State is always aggressive. It will be a good test for us. We're ready to see how we respond. The only question we have is our pitching depth. We have some injuries, and we're still trying to get some guys up and running, so that's going to be a real key for us."

Friday's doubleheader with Jackson State will be the first meeting between the schools since the 2008 season, when USA defeated the Tigers 18-6 in Jackson, Miss., and 16-0 at Stanky Field. The Jaguars have never lost to JSU, and lead the all-time series 6-0.

USA returns five starters from last season, including center fielder Adam Heisler, a 2009 second-team all-Sun Belt Conference and 2010 preseason all-SBC selection. The Mobile native led the Jaguars in batting average (.390) and on-base percentage (.441) in 2009. Last season Heisler ranked second in the SBC with 1.69 hits per game, fifth in batting average, tied for seventh with 16 stolen bases and 13th in on-base percentage. He led the league with 50 hits in conference play, and enters the 2010 season ranked third on USA's career batting average list.

Jaguar left-handed pitcher Lance Baxter was also named preseason all-SBC as a relief pitcher, but is expected to contribute to the USA starting rotation this season. Baxter led the Jaguars in earned run average (3.74) and saves (6) last year, and recorded 54 strikeouts in 67.1 innings. The Robertsdale, Ala., native became the first pitcher in South Alabama history to record saves in all three games of a series when he did so in the Jags' sweep of Louisiana-Lafayette last year.

Jackson State returns six starters from last season's 36-21 squad which finished second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division. Third baseman Frank Solis, who led the Tigers with a .372 batting average and ranked third in RBI (39) in 2009, returns to lead JSU at the plate. Outfielder Willie Wesley also returns after hitting .353 in 49 games last season.

Right-handed pitcher Quintavious Drains is the only returner who saw action on the mound in 2009. Drains led the Tigers in appearances (21) and saves (4) a year ago, while posting a 4.26 ERA and striking out 53 batters in 50.1 innings.

USA's contest at Alabama Saturday will mark the 100th meeting between the schools since the series began in 1968. The Crimson Tide leads the all-time series 51-48. The Jaguars split with Alabama last season, with USA defeating the Crimson Tide 21-16 at Stanky Field before falling to UA 14-3 in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama returns 14 letterwinners and six starters from last season's 37-21 team, and begins a new era under first-year head coach Mitch Gaspard, who took over for longtime coach Jim Wells.

UA is led by third baseman Jake Smith, who hit .359 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI lin 2009. Preseason All-American Ross Wilson returns at second base after hitting .353 with nine home runs and 47 RBI.

Left-handed pitcher Adam Morgan is the Crimson Tide's only returning starting pitcher from last season. The sophomore went 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA while striking out 44 batters in 58.1 innings in 2009.

USA is 18-33 all-time at Alabama, and last defeated the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa in 2007.  The Jags are 30-17 in games played at Stanky Field. Alabama leads the all-time series 51-48.

Sunday's contest against Alabama will be broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, beginning at 1 p.m., and can also be accessed at www.wnsp.com. 

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

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