MOBILE, Ala. – After consecutive midweek wins over Nicholls State and Tulane, the University of South Alabama baseball team will return to action this weekend when it hosts UALR in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field beginning Friday at 6 p.m.

South Alabama right-hander Garrett Harris (3-2) will make his ninth start of the season, and will square off against UALR right-hander Travis Henke (1-1). Harris enters Friday’s contest with a team-best 2.48 ERA, and is limiting opponents to a .236 batting average. He is tied for the SBC lead in strikeouts (52) heading into the weekend, and has issued just 10 walks in 58 innings pitched this season. Henke enters Friday’s game with a 3.58 ERA, but opponents are hitting .318 against him in nine appearances this season. Friday will mark his sixth start of the season. Henke has struck out 29 batters and allowed just nine walks in 37 2/3 innings pitched.

Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 2 p.m., and will feature USA right-hander Dustin Crenshaw (5-1) going against Trojan left-hander Ryan Juris (1-0). Crenshaw leads the Sun Belt in innings pitched (60.1) and walks allowed (3), and is tied for seventh nationally in the latter. He leads the Jaguars with two complete games, and carries a 3.13 ERA into Saturday’s game. Juris will make his third start of the season Saturday, and carries a 4.19 ERA into the contest. He has struck out 16 batters against 14 walks in 19 1/3 innings pitched this season. Opponents are hitting just .211 against him.

Jaguar right-hander Carlton Paris (1-3) will make his sixth start of the season in Sunday’s 1 p.m. contest, and will face UALR right-hander Calvin Drinnen (3-3). Paris will make his first weekend start of the season Sunday afternoon, and has struck out 18 batters in 32 1/3 innings pitched. Drinnen will make his eighth start of the season, and carries a 5.72 ERA into the contest. He has struck out 15 batters against 21 walks in 34 1/3 innings pitched, while opponents are hitting .319 against him.

USA is 53-9 all-time against UALR, and 26-5 all-time against the Trojans at Stanky Field. The Jaguars have swept UALR 11 times, with six of those series sweeps coming at Stanky Field.

South Alabama (17-16, 5-7 SBC) enters the weekend 3-2 in its last five games after taking two midweek contests against Nicholls State and Tulane on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The Jaguars will be in search of their first Sun Belt Conference series win since they took two of three games from Louisiana-Monroe March 26-27 at Stanky Field.

USA is averaging seven runs and nearly 13 hits per game in its last five contests, and totaled 34 hits in two games this week against NSU and Tulane. The Jags rank second in the Sun Belt in doubles (72), and third in batting average (.297), hits (343), home runs (20) and total bases (483).

Taylor White leads the SBC in stolen bases (15), and ranks second in the conference in at-bats with 149. Nolan Earley is tied for the Sun Belt lead in doubles with 14.

Brent Tanner ranks fourth in the SBC in home runs (6) and total bases (74), and fifth in slugging percentage (.574). Tanner is tied for fifth in RBI (29), and ranks seventh in the league in batting average (.357). In his last 10 games, Tanner is batting .357 with four home runs, three doubles, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. He leads the Jags in batting average, hits (47), homers, RBI, total bases and slugging percentage.

The Jaguar pitching staff leads the SBC in home runs allowed (11), and is tied for second in the league in saves with seven led by Cory McGinnis with three this season.

UALR (15-17, 6-6 SBC) enters this weekend’s series 2-3 in its last five games, and 5-5 in its last 10 contests after falling at No. 18 Oklahoma State 9-6 Tuesday evening. The Trojans have won their last two SBC series by taking two of three games against Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, both of which were played in Little Rock, Ark. UALR is 0-3 in SBC road games this season after being swept at Troy March 25-27. The Trojans are 5-10 in road games this season, and have dropped five of their last six road contests dating back to March 22 when they fell 5-3 at Kansas.

UALR second baseman Jason Houston leads the Trojans in batting average (.333), hits (39) and runs scored (26). Trojan catcher Nick Rountree leads the team in home runs (5), total bases (55) and slugging percentage (.534). First baseman Jake Rowell is the team’s RBI leader with 26 entering the weekend series.

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

Live stats for each game will also be available at www.usajaguars.com.

Friday’s postgame will feature “Friday Night Fireworks”. The first 500 fans at Saturday’s 2 p.m. game will receive a team photo, and can get postgame autographs from Jaguar coaches and student-athletes. Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale is “Family Day”, where four tickets, hot dogs and Pepsi-Colas, and two t-shirts may be purchased for just $30. The Jaguars will wear their camouflage uniforms on Sunday, and all active and retired Military will receive a free ticket with proper Military I.D.

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 (17-16, 5-7 SBC) vs. UALR (15-17, 6-6 SBC)
April 15-17 • Stanky Field

All-Time Series:  South Alabama leads 53-9

Probable Starters

Game 1
Fri., April 15 – 6 p.m.
USA – RHP  Garrett Harris (3-2)
UALR – RHP Travis Henke (1-1)

Game 2
Sat., April 16 – 2 p.m.
USA – RHP  Dustin Crenshaw (5-1)
UALR – LHP Ryan Juris (1-0)

Game 3
Sun., April 17 – 1 p.m.
USA – RHP  Carlton Paris (1-3)
UALR -  RHP  Calvin Drinnen (3-3)