MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama baseball will open the second half of Sun Belt Conference play this weekend when it hosts Louisiana-Monroe in a three-game series at Stanky Field, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday night. Saturday's contest will be televised by Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS), which airs on channel 37 in Mobile for Comcast cable subscribers, and will begin at 3 p.m. The series will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m. at Stanky Field.
USA (24-14, 11-4 SBC) enters the weekend tied with Arkansas State for second place in the SBC standings. The Jaguars are 2-3 in their last five games after falling at Mississippi State 9-5 Wednesday night in Starkville, Miss. South Alabama knocked off Nicholls State 13-7 Tuesday night at Stanky Field, and defeated then-ranked No. 21 Western Kentucky 7-5 last Sunday. The Hilltoppers took the first two games of last weekend's series from the Jaguars.
South Alabama leads the Sun Belt in five offensive categories heading into this weekend's series with ULM. The Jags lead the league in hits (443), doubles (93), at-bats (1,349), stolen bases (71) and steal attempts (95). USA ranks second in the SBC in batting average (.328), runs batted in (285) and runs scored (315).
Third baseman Jake Overstreet entered the week ranked second in the nation in RBI, and leads the Sun Belt with 56 entering the weekend. The Thomasville, Ala., native is tied for third in the league in hits (59), tied for fifth in total bases (93) and ranks ninth in batting average (.383). Overstreet leads South Alabama in home runs (8), hits and RBI, and is tied for the team lead in total bases and at-bats (154).
USA right fielder Sean Laird leads the Jags in batting average (.413), doubles (13), on-base percentage (.503) and slugging percentage (.674), and is tied with Overstreet for the team lead in total bases (93), which ranks fifth in the conference. The Kokomo, Ind., native ranks third in the SBC in on-base percentage, fourth in batting average, fifth in RBI (42), tied for fifth in hits (57) and ranks sixth in slugging percentage.
Second baseman Zach Grichor leads the Jaguars in runs scored (44) and base on balls (23), and is tied for second on the team in hits (57) and doubles (12). The Spring, Texas, native ranks fourth in the SBC in runs scored, tied for fifth in hits and tied for sixth in walks.
South Alabama center fielder Taylor White leads the Sun Belt in stolen bases (18), while USA senior Adam Heisler ranks second in the league with 17 steals.
Jaguar pitchers lead the conference in complete games (7), and are tied for third in strikeouts (246).
USA right-hander D.D. Hanks (7-2) is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Warhawks. Hanks leads the SBC in strikeouts (61) and complete games (4), and ranks sixth in the league in earned run average (2.90). The Saraland, Ala., native entered the week tied for first in the nation in wins, and tied for 26th in strikeouts. Hanks has tossed complete games in three of five SBC games this year, and has pitched into the ninth inning in five of his last six starts, with four of those five in conference games. He leads the league in strikeouts in SBC games with 43.
Jaguar left-hander Lance Baxter (5-0) leads the league in ERA (1.88), and ranks 20th nationally. Baxter has tossed three complete games in as many starts, all of which have been SBC contests, and is tied for second in complete games in the conference. The Robertsdale, Ala., native is tied for third in the SBC in saves (5), and has held opponents to a .245 batting average, which ranks eighth in the league.
Left-handed reliever Phillip Byrd (2-1) leads the Jags in appearances (20), which ranks third in the Sun Belt, while limiting opponents to a .256 batting average.
Louisiana-Monroe (13-20, 3-9 SBC) enters the weekend 1-4 in its last five games after defeating Grambling State 19-7 Tuesday night in Grambling, La. The Warhawks have lost six consecutive SBC games entering its three-game set with USA, and won its only conference series over New Orleans March 19-21, when they took two of three games from the Privateers. ULM ranks last in the conference in batting average (.273), and 10th out of 11 teams in runs scored (201) and hits (312). The Warhawks ranks 10th in the league in ERA (7.98), while opponents are hitting .319 against them, however, they are tied for third with the Jaguars in strikeouts (246).
ULM second baseman Caleb Clowers leads the team in batting average (.369), hits (48), doubles (12), on-base percentage (.418) and at-bats (130). Third baseman Nick Wade leads the Warhawks in home runs (8), RBI (30), runs scored (28) and slugging percentage (.581).
ULM right-hander Drew Granier (3-3) is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Jaguars. Granier enters the weekend with a 6.60 ERA in 45 innings pitched. He has allowed 33 runs this season, while striking out 46 batters and issuing 20 walks. Opponents are hitting .289 against Granier this season.
Warhawk right-handers James Jones (3-3, 5.36 ERA) and Jordy Poche (2-3, 7.23 ERA) are scheduled to start Saturday and Sunday's games, respectively.
USA is 14-8 all-time against ULM, and enters Friday's contest with a five-game winning streak over the Warhawks after sweeping last season's series. The Jags are 11-4 all-time against ULM at Stanky Field, and have not lost to the Warhawks at home since 2008.
All three games of this weekend's series will be broadcast in Mobile on WNSP 105.5 FM, and can be accessed nationwide 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).
- USA -
Scheduled starters
Fri., April 16 - 6 p.m.
USA - D.D. Hanks RHP (7-2, 2.90 ERA)
ULM - Drew Granier RHP (3-3, 6.60 ERA)
Sat., April 17 - 3 p.m.
USA - Garrett Harris RHP (4-3, 4.53 ERA)
ULM - James Jones RHP (3-3, 5.36 ERA)
Sun., April 18 - 1 p.m.
USA - TBA
ULM - Jordy Poche RHP (2-3, 7.23 ERA)
