MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball outfielder Cole Billingsley and right-handed pitcher Kevin Hill were each selected Saturday on day three of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Billingsley, who just completed his redshirt junior season at USA, was selected in the 19th round (571st pick) by the Baltimore Orioles. The Cropwell, Ala., native led the Sun Belt Conference in stolen bases (31) for the second consecutive season, and also led the league in  sacrifice flies (8) in 2016. He was a first-team all-SBC selection, and led South Alabama with 20 multiple-hit games.

Hill, the only player in Sun Belt Conference history to earn the league's pitcher of the year award twice, was selected in the 25th round (757th pick) by the Houston Astros. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native led the SBC in strikeouts (126) for the second straight year, and also led the league in innings pitched (122.2). Hill was recently named a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, and was also a first-team all-SBC selection. 

Billingsley is the first Jaguar outfielder selected since Jordan Patterson (Colorado Rockies) and Nolan Earley (Chicago White Sox) were taken in the 2013 draft. With Hill's selection, it marks the fourth consecutive season a Jaguar pitcher has been drafted.

"It is what you work for – to hear your named called," Billingsley said. "I have put in a lot of hard work, especially after the surgery, and it feels great to have accomplished this goal."

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).