MOBILE, Ala. –The University of South Alabama softball team travels to the state of Florida to take on Sun Belt conference opponent Florida International this weekend in Miami, Fla.

 The first pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. and the series finale is scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday.

The Jaguars enter the contest with a 32-13 record overall and an 11-8 record in league play. USA is 13-8 when playing at Jaguar Field, and 7-4 on the road this season.

“This weekend should be a great series,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “We know we will have our hand full with a very well coached and athletic FIU team. We are currently tied with them for third place in the conference standings so we have a chance to help ourselves out this weekend.”

USA is ranked second in the league in batting average (.281), on base percentage (.363), and RBI (90).
First baseman Meghan Collins continues to pace the Jags at the plate with a .381 batting average. She has recorded 29 runs and 43 hits including a team-leading 10 doubles.

Sophomore Brittany Fowler carries a team-leading 47 hits and 47 RBI through 45 games this season. She also leads the team with a .615 slugging percentage.

Haley Hopkins and Christin Crocker are tied for the team-lead in home runs (9). Hopkins and Crocker are also tied for first on USA’s all-time career home runs list (19).

Senior short stop Jenny Stevens has tallied a team-high 47 runs while recording a .306 batting average. Stevens is ranked fifth in league play in runs scored (17).

Left-hander Hannah Campbell (15-5) leads the team with eight SBC wins. She has struck out 108 batters in 135 innings of work this season. Sophomore pitcher Morgan Druhan continues to lead the team in the circle with 134 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched.

FIU has a 7-5 all-time lead over the Jaguars. USA is 3-3 against FIU on the road and 2-4 against FIU at Jaguar Field.  Last season, the Panthers took two games from the Jags at Jaguar Field.
The Panthers (27-23, 11-8 SBC) enter the weekend after sweeping its doubleheader against North Florida 7-1 and 5-4 at UNF Softball Complex.  

FIU’s offense is led by Ashley McClain, who is batting .410 through 50 games this season. She has also recorded a team-leading 32 runs, 64 hits and 42 RBI. Kayla Burri and Alex Cassels are both hitting over .300 for the Panthers.

Freshman Mariah Dawson (9-8) leads the Panther pitching staff with a 2.63 ERA, while recording 131 strikeouts in 122.1 innings of work. Jenn Gniadek (13-11) has recorded 118 strikeouts in 162.1 innings in the circle.

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—