MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Jackson State at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

USA (0-3) will look to rebound from last weekend’s series with No. 32 College of Charleston in which the Jaguars dropped all three games.

Jaguar right-hander Anthony Izzio is scheduled to make his first career start as a Jaguar in Tuesday’s contest against the Tigers. Izzio pitched one shutout inning last weekend against the Cougars, and allowed just two hits.

South Alabama is 10-0 all-time against Jackson State after taking two games from the Tigers last season. The Jags are 38-1 all-time against SWAC opponents, with their only loss coming to Southern in 1987.

Dustin Dalken leads USA with a .286 batting average and two RBI through three games.

Jackson State (2-0) won two games last weekend, knocking off Florida A&M 15-6 and Eastern Illinois 2-1.

Against FAMU, JSU right fielder Charles Epperson went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, while first baseman Ethan Bright went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and one run scored.

The Tiger pitching staff allowed just three earned runs in 16 innings pitched over the weekend with 16 strikeouts.

JSU third baseman Frank Solis was named preseason first-team all-SWAC after batting .302 with 41 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, 21 RBI last season. Epperson was voted preseason second-team all-SWAC after hitting .299 with 12 doubles, two triples, four homers, 39 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts.

USA will look to avoid dropping its first four games of the season on Tuesday. The Jags have not lost four consecutive games to open the season since 2003, when they lost at San Diego State in the season opener followed by a three-game series sweep at Southern California. That season, USA went on to win 42 games, capture the Sun Belt Conference championship and earn an NCAA Regional berth.

Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com. All South Alabama home games are available via webcast at www.usajaguars.com. Live stats for Tuesday’s game will be available and can be accessed through the multimedia section 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).
Game Notes