MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team opens Sun Belt Conference action by hosting Louisiana-Monroe in a weekend series at Jaguar Field March 10-11. Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m., with the series finale to follow at noon on Sunday.   

The Jaguars took two of three games from the Warhawks last season and run-ruled them in the first game of the 2011 conference tournament to lead all-time 11-5.

South Alabama advanced to 11-6 on the season after a dominating 16-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday at Jaguar Field.

The Jaguars are led at the plate by a pair of freshmen from Kimberly, Ala., Alyssa Linn and Blair Johnson. Linn is hitting .415, which is fourth in the SBC, on the year and has tallied and team-leading 22 hits, including five doubles, while Johnson is batting .368 overall and has racked up 21 hits. Linn and Johnson each currently hold a three-game hitting streak.

Linn and Johnson top a list of seven Jags hitting .250 or better this season. Junior Brittany Fowler boasts a quad-leading .653 slugging percentage and leads the team in home runs with four.

In the circle, the Jags are paced by junior Jessica Dobson with a 0.55 ERA and a perfect 2-0 record. Dobson, who has also recorded two saves this season, has allowed only two runs in 25.1 innings of work. Sophomore Hannah Campbell (5-5) has totaled a team-high 49 Ks and thrown seven complete games including three shutouts this year.

In her collegiate debut against Southeastern Louisiana this past week, freshman Farish Beard picked up her first win and tied Campbell for most strikeouts in a game this season with 10. Beard gave up only one hit and one run in the game.

Most recently, the Warhawks (12-7) edged Stephen F. Austin 5-4 in Monroe, La.

Freshman Alexis Cacioppo has been the firepower behind ULM's offense this season, leading the team in batting average (.412), hits (21), doubles (4), home runs (3) and total bases (34). She had a stellar 8-for-12 performance last weekend to bat .667, scoring six runs with two doubles. She ranks in the top-10 of seven offensive categories in the Sun Belt, including third in batting average.

Haylie Wilson leads the pitching staff with a 6-1 overall record and a 3.33 ERA. Wilson has notched 26 strikeouts and walked just 11 batters in 42 innings of work.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).