MOBILE, Ala. – Off to its best start since 2002, University of South Alabama baseball will return to action this weekend when its hosts No. 29 Alabama, Central Florida and Southeastern Louisiana in the 26th Annual South Alabama Classic, Feb. 25-27, at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (4-0) will face Central Florida (4-0) at 6 p.m. Friday night, preceded by a 1 p.m. matchup between Alabama (4-0) and Southeastern Louisiana (3-1).

The Jaguars will face Alabama at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by Southeastern Louisiana and Central which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Alabama will square off with Central Florida Sunday at 11 a.m., while South Alabama will take on Southeastern Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon to close the tournament.

“I think this is one of the stronger tournaments we have had in a while,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “We’ve had some great tournaments through the years starting back in 1986. But this year, Southeastern Louisiana is off to a tremendous start. They have probably played the toughest schedule of anyone after taking two of three games from Florida International in Miami and beating Tulane 13-1. Alabama is undefeated with a very good pitching staff, and Taylor Dugas is an outstanding center fielder.

“Central Florida is picked by many to finish in the top 25 this year, and they are undefeated as well. It’s going to be a great college baseball weekend. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and the fans will come out.”

Friday night’s matchup between South Alabama and Central Florida will feature Jaguar right-hander Garrett Harris (1-0) going against Central Florida right-hander Danny Winkler (1-0). Harris enters the game with a 1.29 ERA in seven innings pitched with six strikeouts against one walk. Winkler boasts a 1.50 ERA in six innings pitched with six strikeouts, and did not issue a walk in his season-opening start against Siena.

The Jaguars have won four consecutive games entering Friday’s contest with the Knights. Central Florida leads the all-time series against USA 5-3, and defeated USA 6-3 the last time the schools met in 1999 at the Olive Garden Classic in Kissimmee, Fla.

South Alabama is 39-23 all-time in the South Alabama Classic, and is 1-0 against both Alabama and Southeastern Louisiana in the tournament.

The Jags’ Saturday matchup with Alabama will feature USA right-hander Jeff Miller (0-0) against Alabama right-hander Nathan Kilcrease (1-0). Miller pitched six innings and allowed one run on just three hits while striking out five in his Jaguar debut last Saturday against UT-Martin. Kilcrease allowed just one run on four hits in six innings pitched while recording eight strikeouts in his season debut against Alcorn State.

Alabama took two games from South Alabama last season, and enters Saturday’s contest with a 53-47 all-time series lead over the Jaguars.

USA will close the tournament when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana Sunday afternoon. The Jags are 38-10 all-time against the Lions, after splitting two games last season. South Alabama won the last meeting between the schools 12-11 in April last year at Stanky Field.

Jaguar right-hander Dustin Crenshaw (0-0) is scheduled to make his second start of the season after pitching a career-high 6 1/3 innings at Jackson State Tuesday. Crenshaw set a career high in strikeouts against JSU with four, and retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced in that game.

South Alabama second baseman Logan Kirkland leads the Jaguars in batting average (.500), slugging percentage (.750), on-base percentage (.625), and has hit safely in his first four games at USA.

Third baseman Jake Overstreet leads USA in RBI (8) and runs scored (6), and carries a 10-game hitting streak into Friday’s contest against Central Florida. Overstreet has made 157 consecutive starts at third base entering Friday’s matchup.

“We have to pitch, play defense and be consistent to be successful this weekend,” Kittrell said. “We have to generate more early in the game offensively, and not wait until later in the game. When you face quality teams, they usually have a good closer who can make that very difficult.”

South Alabama’s Friday and Saturday contests will be broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com.

All South Alabama home games are available via webcast through Jaguar Nation at www.usajaguars.com for $9.95 per month or $69.95 per year. Live stats will be available for every game of the South Alabama Classic, and can be accessed through the multimedia section 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-

26th Annual South Alabama Classic

Fri., Feb. 25
1 p.m. – Alabama (4-0) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (3-1)
6 p.m. – Central Florida (4-0) vs. South Alabama (4-0)

Sat, Feb. 26
1 p.m. – South Alabama vs. Alabama
4:30 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Central Florida

Sun., Feb. 27
11 a.m. – Central Florida vs. Alabama
2:30 p.m. – Southeastern Louisiana vs. South Alabama

Probable Starters

Fri., Feb. 25
1 p.m. Alabama – LHP Adam Morgan (1-0)
           Southeastern Louisiana – RHP Brandon Efferson (1-0)

6 p.m. South Alabama – RHP Garrett Harris (1-0)
           Central Florida – RHP Danny Winkler (1-0)

Sat., Feb. 26
1 p.m.  South Alabama – RHP Jeff Miller (1-0)
            Alabama – RHP Nathan Kilcrease (1-0)

4:30 p.m.  Southeastern Louisiana – RHP Joseph Koon (0-1)
                 Central Florida – TBA

Sun., Feb. 27
11 a.m. Alabama – RHP Tucker Hawley (1-0)
             Central Florida – TBA

2:30 p.m.   South Alabama – RHP Dustin Crenshaw (0-0)
                  Southeastern Louisiana – RHP Tyler Watkins (1-0)