MOBILE, Ala.  – The University of South Alabama baseball team will play five games in the next six days, beginning Tue., March 6, with a 6 p.m. contest at Southern Mississippi.

Jaguar left-hander Phillip Byrd (0-0) is scheduled to make his first start since his freshman season in 2009. This year, Byrd has posted a 1.46 ERA in 12 1/3 innings pitched, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits with 13 strikeouts and only three walks. The Vancleave, Miss., native has limited the opposition to a .182 batting average in five appearances.

Right-hander Taylor Nunez (1-0) is scheduled to start for the Golden Eagles. Nunez has not allowed an earned run in two appearances, one of which was a start against Mississippi Valley State, and has allowed four hits with eight strikeouts against two walks in 8 2/3 innings. He has limited opponents to a .143 batting average.

South Alabama (3-8) enters Tuesday’s contest 1-4 in its last five games after defeating Stephen F. Austin 5-2 Sunday afternoon in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Jags are 52-29 all-time against Southern Miss after dropping a pair of games to the Golden Eagles last season. USA is 22-16 all-time at USM, and last defeated the Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 2005.

The Jags are 1-3 in road games this season after falling at Alabama last Tuesday, and dropping two of three games at Stephen F. Austin over the weekend.

Southern Miss (8-4) is 6-2 at home, having dropped the series opener of their first two weekend series this year against Nicholls State and Troy, respectively.
 
USA second baseman Kevin Knapp leads the Jags with a .421 batting average, while Nolan Earley leads the team in doubles (5), hits (14), total bases (19), slugging percentage (.432) and stolen bases (2).

Mason Robbins leads USM with a .429 batting average, and is tied for the team lead with 15 hits. Blake Brown leads the Golden Eagles with two home runs and 13 RBI.

South Alabama will face a quick turnaround when it hosts Nicholls State Wed., March 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

USA is 30-13 all-time against the Colonels after splitting a pair of games last season. Nicholls State (6-6) enters the game with a 4-1 record in its last five contests. The Colonels took two of three games at Louisiana-Monroe over the weekend, and earned midweek wins over LSU-Alexandria and Alcorn State.

The Jags are 20-9 at home against Nicholls State, and have won three of the last four meetings at Stanky Field dating back to 2008. The Colonels are 4-3 in road games this season.

Jeremy Hill leads NSU with a .395 batting average, while Michael LeGrange holds the team lead for hits (18) and RBI (13).

Both games will be broadcast live on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com. Live stats are available for all South Alabama games, and can be accessed through the multimedia section at www.usajaguars.com. All South Alabama home games are available via webcast at www.usajaguars.com. In-game updates are also available via twitter @USAJaguarSports.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchaseed by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).