MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team will look to carry momentum from a series win over Troy last weekend into Tuesday’s 6 p.m. contest against Auburn at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala.
South Alabama (6-13) holds a 47-22 all-time series lead over Auburn. The Jaguars are 19-12 all-time at Auburn, and have won the last three meetings, dating back to 2010.
USA right-hander Dillon Buhrkuhl (0-2) is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season in Tuesday’s contest. Buhrkuhl struck out a career-high six batters in a career-high six innings in his last start on March 7 against Nicholls State. Auburn right-hander Jon Luke Jacobs (3-0) will make his fourth start of the season, and carries a 1.37 ERA into the game. Jacobs has 22 strikeouts against seven walks, and has allowed three runs and 10 hits in 19 2/3 innings pitched.
The Jags batted .371 in its three-game Sun Belt Conference opening series with Troy last weekend, while scoring 29 runs on 39 hits. South Alabama set season highs in hits (17) and runs scored (16) in Sunday’s 16-4 win over Troy. USA has more hits (60) in its last five games than any other five-game span this season, and is averaging 12 hits and nearly eight runs over its last five games.
Nick Zaharion leads USA with a .344 batting average, and shares the team lead in RBI (18) with Jordan Patterson. Patterson leads South Alabama in total base (37) and slugging percentage (.500), and is also tied for the team lead in hits (23) with Nolan Earley. Patterson and Zaharion each carry a 16-game on-base streak into Tuesday’s contest. Whitt Dorsey has reached base in 10 straight games, and enters Tuesday’s matchup with Auburn on an eight-game hitting streak.
Auburn (12-8) is 3-2 in its last five games after taking two-of-three games at nationally-ranked Mississippi last weekend. The Tigers are hitting .307 as a team, and are led by Ryan Tella with a .438 batting average. Creede Simpson leads Auburn in doubles (7) and RBI (15). Simpson shares the team lead in stolen bases (14) with Jay Gonzalez. The Tigers rank sixth in the nation in stolen bases with 53.
Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com. Live stats will be available through the multimedia section at www.usajaguars.com. In-game updates will also be available at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports.
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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Game Notes
