MOBILE, Ala. – After nearly 28 seasons as head coach of the University of South Alabama baseball program, Steve Kittrell approaches his final regular-season series as Jaguar skipper this weekend when USA hosts Troy in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field.

Kittrell leads his Jaguar team into the weekend series having won six of its last seven games, including five wins in its last six SBC contests. South Alabama will have an opportunity to improve its seeding in next week’s conference tournament, along with some help from Middle Tennessee, in the final three regular season games. MTSU hosts Western Kentucky this weekend, and the Hilltoppers hold a one-game lead over the Jags for fifth place in the conference standings.

But regardless of what happens this weekend, one thing is certain – the Jags will not be seeded any lower than sixth. And depending upon what happens in three other conference series, South Alabama could finish as high as third in the final league standings.

“We just need to try and win this series,” Kittrell said. “We can’t control our own destiny, we have to have some help from Middle Tennessee, but if we win two out of three then we give ourselves a decent chance. Troy is fighting for first place, and we have a chance to knock them out of first and move them into a different bracket. But we just have to try to keep our momentum going as we head into the tournament – that’s the main thing. Wherever we end up seeded, we just have to go in there and play a great tournament next week. The most important thing is carrying our momemtum into weekend and trying to win the series.”

The Steve Kittrell Celebration Weekend will feature ceremonies prior to Friday’s 6 p.m. contest and Saturday’s 4 p.m. game. The 1996 SBC Championship team will be recognized prior to the start of Friday’s game as part of its 15-year reunion, along with the 2011 Jaguar seniors as part of Senior Day. Kittrell will be honored with a special ceremony beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday before the 4 p.m. first pitch.

“We’ve talked briefly as a team about the fact that there is going to be a lot going on with Senior Day and something honoring my retirement on Saturday,” Kittrell stated. “But I’m just trying to press upon them that as a student-athlete you have to focus on the task at hand, and I think they are mature enough to do that. They realize the importance of the weekend, and they’re just going to have to concentrate, focus and not get carried away with all the hoopla and focus on the task at hand.”

South Alabama (28-24, 14-13 SBC) will look to carry its momentum from an 8-1 win over Auburn Tuesday night at Stanky Field into the weekend series. The Jaguars enter the three-game set with a .295 team batting average, which ranks fourth in the league. USA is third in the SBC in hits (538) and doubles (102), and fourth in runs scored (328), RBI (291), on-base percentage (.382) and total bases (745).

Nolan Earley leads South Alabama with a .343 batting average, and is tied for third in the league in doubles (19). Brent Tanner is tied for third in RBI (50), and tied for fourth in home runs (9).

Logan Kirkland leads the Sun Belt with nine sacrifice flies, which is tied for third nationally. Taylor White leads the nation in at-bats (237), and ranks second in the league in stolen bases (18). White enters the weekend tied for fourth in the SBC in hits with 77.

Jaguar Thursday night starter Garrett Harris (7-3) has tossed three complete games this season, and leads the Sun Belt and ranks 10th nationally in innings pitched (98.2). Harris is the Sun Belt leader in strikeouts (82), and has posted eight quality starts this season including a complete-game win last weekend at Western Kentucky. Right-hander Dustin Crenshaw (7-3) is tied for fifth nationally in shutouts (2), after tossing a complete-game shutout at Western Kentucky last weekend which earned him SBC Pitcher of the Week honors. Crenshaw has seven quality starts this season, while game three starter Carlton Paris (3-4) has five quality starts.

“Our starting pitchers have really done a good job,” Kittrell said. “And some guys out of the bullpen threw well against Auburn, but our starters have been very good. The pitching and defense has definitely been improving, and that’s a good combination. If you pitch and play defense, you are going to have a chance to win.”

The Jaguars enter the Troy series 18-9 at Stanky Field this season, and are 9-3 in Sun Belt games at home this year. South Alabama has won six consecutive SBC games at Stanky Field.

Troy (38-15, 19-8 SBC) has won five of its last six games, and has won its last two Sun Belt series. The Trojans are 8-10 in road games this season, and 7-5 in SBC road contests.

Troy carries a .294 team batting average into the series, which ranks fifth in the Sun Belt. The Trojans lead the league in doubles (134), and are tied with Florida International for the league lead in runs scored (370). Troy ranks second in the league in slugging percentage (.441), RBI (333), home runs (37), total bases (795) and walks (244).

Shortstop Adam Bryant leads the Sun Belt in hits (80), runs scored (53), RBI (58), and ranks second in the conference in doubles (24) and total bases (133). Bryant is tied for fifth nationally in doubles, while Tyler Hannah leads the league in doubles (27) and is tied for second nationally.

The Trojan pitching staff leads the conference in strikeouts (400) and runs allowed (214), and ranks second in the league in ERA (3.60), innings pitched (470) hits allowed (440) and opposing batting average (.250).

Tyler Ray (11-0) is tied for first in the nation in wins, and leads the SBC in ERA (1.89) and wins. Ray ranks second in the conference opposing batting average (.226) and innings pitched (95.1).

South Alabama holds a 32-23 all-time series lead over the Trojans after dropping two of three games at Troy to open SBC play this season. The Jaguars are 21-7 all-time against the Trojans. Kittrell is 25-18 all-time against Troy.

Harris will take the mound for the Jaguars in Thursday’s series opener at 6 p.m. against Ray. Friday’s 6 p.m. contest will feature Crenshaw on the bump for South Alabama and left-hander Jimmy Hodgskin (2-6) going on the hill for the Trojans. Troy has not announced a starter for Saturday’s 4 p.m. series finale, but Paris will take the mound for the Jaguars.

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).