MOBILE, Ala. – Steve Kittrell will begin his 28th and final season as head coach of the University of South Alabama baseball program when the Jaguars host UT-Martin Fri., Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field in game one of a three-game season-opening series.
Friday’s contest will mark the first-ever meeting between the schools, and the first time South Alabama has faced an Ohio Valley Conference opponent to open the season since 2000 when the Jags fell to Jacksonville State 5-4.
USA is 28-18 all-time in season openers, and 25-5 when opening the season at home.The Jaguars have won seven consecutive season openers at Stanky Field, and have not lost a game to open the season since 2005, when Arizona State knocked off the Jags 7-2 in Surprise, Ariz.
Senior right-hander Garrett Harris is scheduled to start Friday’s contest against the Skyhawks. Harris went 5-4 with a 4.89 ERA in 18 appearances last season, 14 of which were starts. He recorded 64 strikeouts against 26 walks in 81 innings, and posted eight quality starts.
UT-Martin right-hander Dan Tobik is scheduled to start Friday’s game for the Skyhawks. Tobik led UTM with a 3.63 ERA in 22 appearances last season. He went 3-2 with 59 strikeouts against 22 walks in 67 innings pitched last year, but made just three starts.
“I hope a lot of fans will come out and see the new stadium renovations, and hopefully a Jaguar team that will be worth watching,” Kittrell said. “We’re excited about the work ethic of this team and the preparation they have put in. We’re all excited about opening up against a pretty good opponent. They [UT-Martin] didn’t have a great year last year, but they have three guys on the preseason all-OVC team. They are a senior team, and they’re coming in here optimistic too. With the bat restrictions, you could see a lot closer games. I like our team, but we have to prove we can win close games.
“The seniors have brought a lot of leadership, and the new guys will be expected to contribute. There will be a freshman at second base [Logan Kirkland] and a junior-college transfer at shortstop in Jerry Roam. We certainly need some defense out of those guys. I think coach Calvi has done a great job with the pitching, and I think we can mix and match guys; we have five or six left-handers who can throw the ball over the plate and hopefully get some guys out.”
The Jaguars return three position starters, a trio of seniors, from last season’s 32-27 squad that finished tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference. Preseason all-SBC selection Jake Overstreet returns at third base after batting .346 with 11 home runs and 74 RBI as a junior. He tied for the SBC lead in RBI in 2010, and tied for 23rd nationally.
Last season, Overstreet led the Jaguars in hits (82), home runs (11), RBI (74) and total bases (127), and tied for second on the team in batting average (.346). Overstreet has made 153 consecutive starts at third base entering the 2011 season, and carries a six-game hitting streak from last year into the season opener.
Center fielder Taylor White returns for his senior campaign after stealing 27 bases last season, which ranked second in the SBC behind former Jaguar Adam Heisler’s 31 steals. White hit .346 with 12 doubles and 34 RBI in 58 games last season.
Catcher Brent Tanner also returns for his senior season after making 51 starts behind the dish in 2010. The Lucedale, Miss., native batted .300 with 14 doubles, seven home runs and 42 RBI a year ago.
Tanner carries a five-game hitting streak into Friday's season opener, while White carries a four-game hitting streak.
UT-Martin was picked to finish last in the 2011 preseason poll, as voted on by the league’s coaches. The Skyhawks return 22 lettermen from last season’s squad that finished 24-31 overall and ninth in the OVC with an 8-16 conference record.
UTM first baseman Wes Patterson, third baseman Trey Karlen and outfielder Jordan Owen were named preseason all-OVC. Patterson set a school record with 64 RBI last season, while batting .344 with 44 runs, 15 doubles and 15 home runs. Karlen batted .356 with 61 runs, a school-record 22 doubles, 14 home runs, 45 RBI and stole 30 bases last season, while Owen set a new school record in home runs (18) and batted .326 with 14 doubles and 51 RBI.
Game two of this weekend’s three-game series will begin at 2 p.m. at Stanky Field Saturday afternoon, and the series will conclude Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Gates will open one hour prior to the start of each South Alabama baseball game.
Friday and Saturday’s games will be broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed at www.wnsp.com.
ll South Alabama baseball home games are available via webcast through Jaguar Nation at www.usajaguars.com for $7.95 per month or $69.95 per year. Live stats are available for all USA games and can be accessed through the multimedia section at www.usajaguars.com.
Live stats for all South Alabama baseball games are available at www.usajaguars.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-
South Alabama vs. UT-Martin
Feb. 18-20 • Stanky Field
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1 – Fri., Feb. 18 • 6 p.m.
USA: Garrett Harris (Sr., RHP)
UTM: Dan Tobik (So., RHP)
Game 2 – Sat., Feb. 19 • 2 p.m.
USA: Jeff Miller (So., RHP)
UTM: Danny Kelley (Jr., RHP)
Game 3 – Sun., Feb. 20 • 1 p.m.
USA: Jeff DeBlieux (Jr., LHP)
UTM: Alex Boshers (So., RHP)
