MOBILE, Ala. – The 2012 University of South Alabama softball schedule was released Thursday by head coach Becky Clark. The Jaguars’ spring season is highlighted by 21 games at Jaguar field, teams from 13 different conferences and nine opponents who qualified for the NCAA tournament last season.

"I am excited about this year's schedule and feel like it has a great mixture of teams,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “Once again, we will face some of the top programs in the nation. We have some challenging road stretches in there, but we also have some very good teams coming to play at Jaguar Field.”

The Jags will open the season at Jaguar field on Feb. 9 against Mississippi State before hosting the Mardi Gras Invitational Feb. 10-12 which includes Jacksonville State, Alabama, Lipscomb, Mississippi State and Memphis.

“We are hosting a tournament the opening weekend that should provide some great competition for our players and great softball for our fans,” Clark said. “I look forward to a challenging 2012 season and know that our student-athletes are working hard to prepare for it as well."

USA will then take to the road for a 14-game road swing including three tournaments. The trip kicks off on Feb. 17 at the Jacksonville State Invitational with games against Southeastern Louisiana, SIU-Carbondale and Jacksonville State.

Following the Jacksonville State Invitational, South Alabama will take on Nicholls in Thibodaux, La.

The Jaguars will also participate in the Tiger Classic hosted by LSU Feb. 25-26 and the Citrus Classic at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. March 2-4.

South Alabama returns home for a mid-week matchup against Southeastern Louisiana On March 7 followed by a weekend series with Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana-Monroe March 10-11.

The Jags then head to Birmingham, Ala. to square off with in-state rivals UAB (March 14) and Samford (March 15).

South Alabama will resume conference action March 17-18 against Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky.

The Jaguars will then travel back to Mobile for back-to-back weekday bouts with Southern Miss (March 21) and Tulsa (March 22).

USA hits the road again for a weekend series against SBC opponent Florida Atlantic (March 24-25) before taking on in-state rival Troy in Troy, Ala. March 28.

On March 31-April 1 the Jags are slated to host Middle Tennessee followed by their bout with Nicholls State on April 3 at Jaguar Field.

From April 6-22, South Alabama will play nine games in four different states taking on Louisiana-Lafayette, Florida State, Southern Miss, Southeastern Louisiana and North Texas.

The Jaguars will close out the regular season at Jaguar Field with at seven-game home stand against Mercer (April 25), Florida International (April 28-29) and Troy (May 5).

The 2012 Sun Belt Conference Tournament is scheduled for May 9-12 in Boca Raton, Fla.

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).