MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team will host Louisiana-Monroe in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series this weekend at Stanky Field.

The series will open with game one Friday at 6:30 p.m., and game two is also scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Sunday's series finale is set for 1 p.m.

All three games of the series will be broadcast live on 99.5 FM The Jag in Mobile, and can also be accessed via the iHeartRadio app. Each game will also be streamed live and available for purchase through JagNationTV.com. Live stats for every Jaguar game are available at USAJaguars.com, and in-game updates are provided through the Jaguar baseball Twitter account (@SouthALBaseball).

USA right-hander Kevin Hill (5-1) will make his seventh start of the season in Friday's series opener. Hill leads the Sun Belt and is tied for 12th nationally with 51 strikeouts. He is tied for the league lead in wins (5), and ranks second in innings pitched (45.2). Hill enters Friday's start with 251 career strikeouts, and needs just five to pass former Jaguar Kenny Rayborn for sixth on the all-time list. He will square off with ULM right-hander Chris Hunt (2-2) who carries a 4.67 ERA into the game, but has struck out 27 batters and issued just eight walks in 27 innings pitched.

USA right-hander Hunter Soleymani (1-1) will make his sixth start of the season in game two of the series. Soleymani has posted a 2.81 ERA in two SBC starts, and limited the opposition to a .237 batting average in 16 innings pitched. He has recorded back-to-back quality starts, and has struck out 16 batters in 33 2/3 innings. ULM will send right-hander Brayden Bouchey (2-1) to the mound in game two for his seventh start of the year. Bouchey has a 2.19 ERA with 14 strikeouts against four walks in 12 1/3 innings pitched in his two SBC starts this season. 

Jaguar right-hander Austin Bembnowski (2-0) will get his sixth start of the year in Sunday's series finale. Bembnowski has recorded two quality starts this season, including his last start in which he tossed seven innings in a win over Texas-Arlington. He has struck out 20 batters in 25 innings pitched, and limited SBC opponents to .179 batting average. The Warhawks will send right-hander Brandon Bell (2-2) to the mound in game three. Bell carries a 4.56 ERA in seven appearances into the game, and has 20 strikeouts against 11 walks in 25 1/3 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .300 against him.

South Alabama (18-7, 9-0 SBC) sits atop the SBC standings entering the weekend, and is off to its best-ever start in league play. The Jaguars are 12-2 at Stanky Field this season, and have won six straight home contests. USA leads the SBC in stolen bases (36), ranks second in walks (126) and is tied for second in the league in sacrifice flies (12).

Center fielder Cole Billingsley leads the Sun Belt in stolen bases (11), and is tied for the league lead in sacrifice flies (4). Infielder Drew LaBounty is tied for second in the league in stolen bases (6), and is 10th in on-base percentage (.431). Right fielder Travis Swaggerty is tied for second in the conference in walks (19), and is tied for sixth in runs scored (22). First baseman Danny Martinez ranks third in the SBC in RBI (23). Left-hander Shane McKinley enters the weekend second in the league in saves (5). 

ULM (10-15, 2-4 SBC) dropped a pair of midweek games to Northwestern State, but took two of three from Appalachian State last weekend in Monroe, La. The Warhawks were swept by Texas State to open league play.

South Alabama holds a 28-13 all-time lead over Louisiana-Monroe in a series that dates back to 1979 ... The Jaguars have won the last eight series between the schools ... The Warhawks' last series win came in a three-game sweep in Monroe, La., in 2007 ... USA is 10-3 all-time against ULM under head coach Mark Calvi.

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).