Notes

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (5-2)
                    at 
South Alabama Jaguars (5-3)

March 5-7 • Stanky Field • Mobile, Ala.

Game 1 | Fri., March 5 | 6:30 p.m.
Game 2 | Sat., March 6 | 2 p.m.
Game 3 | Sun., March 7 | 1 p.m.

Media Information
Live Stream:  Each game of the series will be broadcast live via ESPN+ and available through the WatchESPN app, as well as through the Jaguar baseball schedule page at USAJaguars.com. J.D. Byars will handle play-by-play duties.

On the Radio:  Radio will not be available for Friday's series opener. Broadcasts for the remaining games of the series will depend on the results of the Jaguar men's basketball team and its run in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, beginning Friday in Pensacola, Fla.

Live Stats:  Live stats will be available and accessible through the Jaguar baseball schedule page at USAJaguars.com, as well as at UNOPrivateers.com.

Twitter:  Follow the official Twitter account of South Alabama baseball — @WeAreSouth_BSB — for news and updates.

Probable Starting Pitchers
Fri., March 5 | 6:30 p.m.
USA - RHP  Jeremy Lee (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
MT -  RHP  Aaron Brown (2-0, 0.90 ERA)

Sat., March 6 | 2 p.m.
USA - LHP  Tyler Lehrmann (1-0, 0.82 ERA)
MT -  LHP  Peyton Wigginton (1-0, 0.90 ERA)

Sun., March 7 | 1 p.m.
USA - RHP  JoJo Booker (0-0, 5.59 ERA)
MT -  RHP  Zach Keenan (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

 All-Time Series
South Alabama owns a 40-24 all-time lead over Middle Tennessee in a series that dates back to 1971. The Blue Raiders took two of three games from the Jags in 2016 at Stanky Field in the most recent meeting, clinching the series in the series finale with a 5-4 win in 12 innings. USA is 4-5 all-time against Middle Tennessee under head coach Mark Calvi.

JAGS LEAD NATION IN SACRIFICE BUNTS
South Alabama entered the week as the nation's leader in sacrifice bunts with 12, and added two more to its total in Wednesday's win at New Orleans for 14 this year. Santi Montiel leads the team and is tied for the Sun Belt lead in sac bunts with three entering the weekend.

ON-BASE, HITTING STREAKS
Santi Montiel carries a 12-game on-base streak into the series opener after reaching safely in the final four games of the 2020 season and reaching safely in every game this year. Both Hunter Donaldson and Alden Davis carry a five-game on-base streak into the series, while Reid Powers enters with a four-game streak. Davis, Donaldson and Cameron Tissue each enter the weekend with a three-game hitting streak.

JAG PITCHING STAFF IN SBC RANKINGS
The Jaguar pitching staff enters the weekend tied for the Sun Belt lead in saves (4), ranked second in ERA (2.96), tied for second for fewest home runs allowed (3) and third in fewest earned runs allowed (24).

JAGS SHUT OUT UNO, EARN FIRST WIN UNDER THE LIGHTS
South Alabama shut out New Orleans 5-0 Wednesday in New Orleans in a combined two-hit effort by right-handers Miles Smith and Jackson Boyd. Smith tossed a career-high 5 1/3 innings, while Boyd struck out a career-high eight in a career-best 3 2/3 innings pitched. It marked the first shutout since a 2-0 win over Gonzaga last season at Stanky Field.  It also marked the Jags' first night win this year.

LEE'S FIRST CAREER START
In his first collegiate start against Southern Miss on Feb. 23, right-handed freshman Jeremy Lee tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out eight without issuing a walk to lead the Jags to a 5-3 victory and earn his first career win. 

MONTIEL AMONG SBC LEADERS IN WALKS
Santi Montiel enters the weekend ranked tied for third in the Sun Belt in walks (8).

BALGAARD TIED FOR LEAGUE LEAD IN DOUBLES
Caleb Balgaard ranks tied for first in the SBC in doubles (4) entering the series after recording two doubles in the series opener at Oral Roberts last weekend. 

TWO-OUT RBIs
South Alabama has recorded 12 two-out RBIs so far this season, which accounts for 37.5 percent of its 32 total RBIs. Hunter Stokes leads the team with six RBIs with two outs, followed by Reid Powers with three. 

SANDLE AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN STOLEN BASES
Center fielder Michael Sandle enters the series tied for third in the SBC in stolen bases with four. Sandle is 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts this season.

JAGUAR PITCHING STAFF STRIKEOUTS
The Jaguar pitching staff has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in five of eight games this season with a high of 13, which it has posted in three games this season - twice against Southeast Missouri and against Southern Miss. 

FIVE OR FEWER
South Alabama is 5-1 this season when allowing five or fewer runs, but is 0-2 when allowing six or more. 

WILSON NAMED PRESEASON SBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR, ALL-AMERICA
Ethan Wilson was named the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year, marking the second straight season he was voted the league's top player in preseason voting. Wilson was also named Baseball America First-Team Preseason All-America, and Third-Team Preseason All-America by D1Baseball.

82 AND COUNTING
Shortsop Santi Montiel has started in 82 consecutive games - every game since joining the program. He started all 56 games in 2019, in addition to all 18 games last season, and has started each game this year. 

JAG PITCHING LAST 5 GAMES
The Jaguar pitching staff is 4-1 with three saves and a 1.80 ERA in its last five games entering the weekend, and has recorded 39 strikeouts in 45 innings but also issued 20 walks in that span. 

WILSON NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD WATCH LIST
Ethan Wilson was selected to the 2021 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, marking the second straight season he has been named to the list. 

DELATORRE, WILSON CONSECUTIVE STARTS STREAKS END
Both Kaleb DeLaTorre and Ethan Wilson each had a 74-game consecutive starts streak snapped after neither started in the season opener against Southeast Missouri on Feb. 19.

WILSON NAMED TO BOBBY BRAGAN COLLEGIATE SLUGGER AWARD WATCH LIST
Ethan Wilson was named to 2021 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award watch list, which honors the nation's top collegiate hitter. Wilson was one of 48 student-athletes named to the watch list, and the lone Sun Belt Conference representative. The winner of the BBCSA will be announced in June at the Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

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

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com.