MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team will look to improve its place in the Sun Belt Conference standings this weekend when it travels to Jonesboro, Ark., for a three-game set with Arkansas State.
South Alabama (18-27, 12-9 SBC) enters the weekend in third place in the SBC standings, and sits just one game behind ASU (23-19, 12-7) who is second in the league standings.
The series will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday night, followed by game two Saturday at 4 p.m. The series finale will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium & Kell Field.
All three games 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, and in-game updates will be provided through Twitter at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports.
The Jaguars have won their last two SBC series, after taking two of three games from Florida International last weekend in Mobile. USA leads the SBC in eight offensive categories in league games entering the weekend: batting average (.326), hits (246), home runs (26), runs scored (162), RBI (146), total bases (366), slugging percentage (.485) and on-base percentage (.407).
South Alabama holds a 55-19 all-time lead over Arkansas State in a series that dates back to 1993. The Jags have won five of the last six meetings between the schools after the Red Wolves defeated USA 12-9 in last year’s SBC tournament. USA swept ASU in three games last year in Mobile, and has won the last two series and five of the last six. South Alabama is 21-9 all-time in Jonesboro.
USA is unbeaten (9-0) when holding Sun Belt opponents to five runs or less. The Jags are also undefeated in SBC games (9-0) when out-hitting the opposition. South Alabama is averaging nearly eight runs and 12 hits per contest in Sun Belt games. USA has recorded 10-plus hits in three of its last four conference games, and nine of its last 11 league contests.
Dustin Dalken ranks second in the SBC in batting average (.397) in conference games, fourth in slugging percentage (.603) and on-base percentage (.468) and is tied for eighth in RBI (18). Nick Zaharion ranks 10th in the Sun Belt with 38 RBI. He is tied for second in home runs (5) in SBC games, tied for third in total bases (48), ranks fourth in runs scored (21) and RBI (22) and eighth in slugging percentage (.571).
Brad Hook has five homers in league games, which is tied for second in the SBC. Jordan Patterson is tied for second in hit by
pitch (9), ranks fi ft h in runs scored (19) and 10th in on-base percentage (.441) in conference games.
Arkansas State enters the series after taking two of three games from Middle Tennessee last weekend in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Friday’s contest marks the Red Wolves first home game since April 15, where they are 16-6 this season.
The Red Wolves are third in the conference in runs allowed (221), and fourth in ERA (4.46), opposing batting average (.246) and hits allowed (387). Michael Faulkner leads the SBC in stolen bases (33) and steal attempts (34). Jacob Lee ranks fifth in the league in strikeouts (63), tied for fifth in innings pitched (65.1) and wins (5) and is sixth in ERA (3.03). John Koch ranks second in the SBC with nine saves.
Phillip Byrd (3-2) will make his ninth start of the season in the series opener Friday, and will paired against Lee (5-1). Jarron Cito (6-3) will make his 12th start of the season in game two on Saturday, and will square off against ASU right-hander Daniel Wright (1-4). Cito has won his last four starts.
Payton Gardner (0-4) is scheduled to make his sixth start of the year in the series finale, while ASU right-hander Cory Kyle (2-3) will make his eight start of the season.
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).
-USA-
Game Notes
