MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team will host defending Sun Belt Conference champion Florida Atlantic in a three-game SBC series this weekend at Stanky Field, beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.
Jaguar right-hander Garrett Harris (3-2) will take the mound for the eighth time this season, and will go against FAU right-hander Ryan Garton (2-2) in Friday’s contest. Game two is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and will feature USA right-hander Dustin Crenshaw (5-0) versus FAU right-hander Paul Davis (5-1). The series will conclude Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with Jaguar left-hander Brad Hook (1-2) and Owls’ right-hander R.J. Alvarez (3-2) listed as the game three probable starters.
Florida Atlantic holds a 9-4 all-time series lead over South Alabama, and has won three of the last four meetings between the schools. The Owls took two of three games from the Jaguars last season in Mobile, and defeated USA in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. South Alabama has never won a series against Florida Atlantic, and is 2-4 against the Owls at Stanky Field.
The Jaguars carry a .287 team batting average and 5.47 team ERA into the weekend series, while FAU is batting .293 and carries a 4.66 team ERA into the weekend. The Jags are batting .288 in SBC games, while the FAU pitching staff ranks second in league games with a 3.84 ERA.
“This is an important series for both schools, but especially for us,” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “We’re off to a slow start in the conference, and we have a tough road ahead of us. We have a lot of good teams coming up on the schedule, starting with Florida Atlantic. It’s the second-half of the season, and it’s time for us to start making improvements.
“Florida Atlantic has virtually every starter back from last year, so they are a very experienced, veteran team. They have some outstanding pitchers, and have one of the better pitchers in the conference in [Paul] Davis. They have two guys who will throw 93 miles per hour, so our hitters are going to have to make some adjustments and be more consistent.”
South Alabama (14-14, 4-5 SBC) enters the weekend 1-4 in its last five games after falling to Southeastern Louisiana 13-8 Tuesday evening in Hammond, La. The Jaguars dropped two of three SBC games at Middle Tennessee last weekend, after falling to Alabama 4-3 in Tuscaloosa.
Harris ranks second in the Sun Belt in strikeouts (46), and is averaging just over eight strikeouts per game. He ranks second in the league in innings pitched (51.0) behind Crenshaw, who leads the conference with 53 1/3 innings pitched this season. Crenshaw is tied for the league lead with two complete games entering the weekend, and is tied for third in wins (5).
Crenshaw is tied for second nationally in walks with one, after allowing his first free pass of the season last weekend at Middle Tennessee, which snapped a streak of 52 consecutive innings pitched without issuing a walk.
South Alabama shortstop Logan Kirkland carries a season-best 13-game hitting streak into the weekend series, and has hit safely in 24 of 27 games this season. Kirkland has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games entering the weekend.
Hook has reached base in 11 consecutive plate appearances entering Friday’s contest, and has hit safely in nine consecutive games. He has reached base safely in 10 consecutive games heading into the weekend.
FAU (17-12, 5-4 SBC) enters the weekend on a four-game losing streak after being swept at Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend and falling to Florida Gulf Coast Tuesday. The Owls are 0-4 in road games this season, and are averaging just two runs per game on the road while allowing an average of five runs per contest.
Alvarez enters the weekend tied with Crenshaw for eighth in strikeouts (36) in the SBC. He has 36 strikeouts against 18 walks in 37 innings pitched entering Saturday’s start, but opponents are hitting .310 against him.
Davis is tied for third in wins (5) in the Sun Belt, and ranks sixth in the league in ERA (2.22). He has struck out 32 batters this season while issuing just five walks in 44 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .250 against him.
Alex Hudak leads the SBC in batting average (.417), and ranks fifth in the league in hits (43). Nick Delguidice leads the conference in doubles (13), and leads the Owls in RBI (24).
Andy Mee holds the team lead in home runs with four, but last season’s SBC saves leader has not recorded a save this season and is 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA in five appearances out of the bulpen this year.
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.
Each game of the series will be available via webcast through the All-Access section at www.usajaguars.com. Live stats for each game of the series will also be available at www.usajaguars.com.
"Friday Night Fireworks" will highlight the postgame festivites at the conclusion of game one. Saturday and Sunday's contests are "Family Day", where you can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs, four Pepsi colas and two t-shirts for only $30.
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).
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Scheduled Starters
Game 1 - Fri., April 8
USA – RHP Garrett Harris (3-2)
FAU – RHP Ryan Garton (2-2)
Game 2 - Sat., April 9
USA – RHP Dustin Crenshaw (5-0)
FAU – RHP Paul Davis (5-1)
Game 3 - Sun., April 10
USA – LHP Brad Hook (1-2)
FAU – RHP R.J. Alvarez (3-2)
