MOBILE, Ala. – After 15 games and just a month into the season, University of South Alabama baseball will open Sun Belt Conference play when it travels to Troy, Ala., for a three-game set at Riddle-Pace Field this weekend.

South Alabama (9-6) will open the series with Troy (14-3) at 6 p.m. Friday night. Game two is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, and the series will conclude Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Jaguar right-hander Garrett Harris (3-0) will get the start Friday night against Troy right-hander Tyler Ray (4-0). Saturday’s pitching matchup will feature South Alabama right-hander Dustin Crenshaw (2-0) against Troy left-hander Ryan Sorce (2-1). Sunday’s series finale will see USA left-hander Brad Hook (0-1) against Trojan right-hander Drew Hull (3-0).

Harris has pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings entering Friday’s contest, while Crenshaw has not issued a walk in 29 1/3 innings pitched this season.

South Alabama will look to rebound after consecutive losses to Columbia in last weekend’s four game-series. The Jags defeated the Lions in the first two games of the series, and will open SBC play 3-2 in their last five games.

The Trojans enter the weekend ranked eighth in RPI, according to WarrenNolan.com. Troy boasts the best overall record in the Sun Belt, and carries a five-game win streak into the weekend after a three-game sweep of New Orleans last weekend and a 15-4 win over Florida A&M Tuesday night. The Trojans are 14-1 at Riddle-Pace Field this season, and have won nine consecutive home games since falling to Southern Miss 4-1 on Feb. 26.

USA holds a 31-21 all-time series lead over Troy entering the weekend, but has dropped three of its last four games to the Trojans dating back to 2009. Troy took the first game of last season’s series at Stanky Field 17-0, and clinched the series with a 6-2 win in game two. The Jaguars rebounded to take game three 11-10.

South Alabama is 8-13 all-time against the Trojans in Troy, and has not won at Riddle-Pace Field since 2008 when it defeated Troy 7-0 in game one of a three-game SBC series. The Jags are 1-4 in their last five games at Troy.

USA ranks third in the SBC in batting average (.300), and fourth in doubles (37), slugging percentage (.426) and on-base percentage (.389). The Jaguar pitching staff leads the league in home runs allowed with just two.

Offensively, Troy leads the Sun Belt in runs scored (134), doubles (46), RBI (119) and walks (93). The Trojans hold the league’s best ERA (2.78), and lead the league in opposing batting average (.216), hits allowed (121) and runs allowed (51). Troy pitchers rank second in the SBC in walks allowed with 40.

South Alabama right fielder Nolan Earley leads the Jags in batting average (.373), slugging percentage (.593), on-base percentage (.456), doubles (8) and total bases (35) entering the weekend. Third baseman Jake Overstreet leads the Jaguars in RBI (19) and runs scored (13). Center fielder Taylor White leads USA in hits (23) and stolen bases (7), and enters the series on a five-game hit streak. Harris is tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead in strikeouts (26), and ranks fifth in ERA (1.86), while Crenshaw and Hook are tied for the SBC lead in walks allowed (0).

Troy is led by preseason all-SBC shortstop Adam Bryant, who leads the Trojans in batting average (.333), runs scored (20), hits (23), RBI (22), total bases (36) and stolen bases (6). Right-hander Tyler Ray, a preseason all-SBC selection, is tied for the SBC lead in wins (4) and ranks fourth in ERA (1.84).

All three games of this weekend’s series will be broadcast on 105.5 FM WNSP in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com.

Live stats for every game of the series will be 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. Troy
March 18-20
Riddle-Pace Field • Troy, Ala.

Probable Pitching Matchups
Fri., March 18
USA – Garrett Harris (Sr., RHP)
Troy – Tyler Ray (Jr., RHP)

Sat., March 19
USA – Dustin Crenshaw (Sr., RHP)
Troy – Ryan Sorce (So., LHP)

Sun., March 20
USA – Brad Hook (Jr., LHP)
Troy – Drew Hull (Sr., RHP)