Notes

South Alabama Jaguars (15-4, 3-0 SBC)
                  at
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (9-11, 0-3 SBC)

March 25-27 | M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park | Lafayette, La.

Game 1 - Fri., March 25 | 6 p.m.
Game 2 - Sat., March 26 | 2 p.m.
Game 3 - Sun., March 27 | 1 p.m.

Media Information
Live Stream:  Only Saturday's game will be streamed, and will be broadcast through ESPN+ and available through the WatchESPN app and via link at the Jaguar baseball schedule page at USAJaguars.com. 

On the Radio:  Jaguar baseball games are broadcast live on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile, and also available through the iHeartRadio app. J.T. Crabtree handles play-by-play duties. 

Live Stats:  Live stats for every Jaguar baseball game can be accessed through the multimedia page at USAJaguars.com, in addition to the Jaguar baseball schedule page.

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

Probable Starting Pitchers
Fri., March 25 | 6 p.m.
USA - RHP Miles Smith (4-0, 1.86 ERA)
UL - LHP Brandon Talley (0-1, 3.32 ERA)

Sat., March 26 | 2 p.m.
USA - RHP Matt Boswell (3-1, 3.67 ERA)
UL - TBA

Sun., March 27 | 1 p.m.
USA - RHP JoJo Booker (2-0, 3.28 ERA)
UL - RHP Jeff Wilson (1-1, 4.38 ERA)

 All-Time Series
South Alabama owns a 68-50 all-time lead over Louisiana in a series that dates back to 1975. The Jaguars swept three games from the Cajuns last season at Stanky Field, and have won two of the last three series dating back to 2018. UL took two of three games from USA in Lafayette in 2020, which marked the last meeting between the schools in Lafayette. 

SIMINGTON IN NATIONAL, SBC RANKINGS
Right fielder Miles Simington ranks fifth nationally in hits per game (1.94), seventh in batting average (.465) and tied for 25th in RBIs per game (1.41). Simington leads the SBC in batting average and hits (33), tied for the league lead in RBIs (24), tied for third in doubles (7), fifth in on-base percentage (.512) and OPS (1.174), tied for sixth in total bases (47) and eighth in slugging percentage (.662).
 
HIT STREAKS, ON-BASE STREAKS
Simington carries a team-best 17-game on-base streak into the weekend, followed by Charles Middleton at nine consecutive games. Middleton carries the team's longest hit streak into the weekend with an eight-game streak, followed by Will Turner at six consecutive games.

SMITH IN NATIONAL, SBC RANKINGS
Right-hander Miles Smith ranks 10th nationally in wins (4), 17th in hits allowed per nine innings (4.34) and 18th in WHIP (0.72) entering Friday's start. Smith leads the Sun Belt in wins and opposing batting average (.139), ranks second in ERA (1.86) and hits allowed (14), tied for second in runs allowed (6), tied for third in earned runs allowed (6), fourth in innings pitched (29), seventh in strikeouts (30) and tied for ninth in walks allowed (7).

JAGS IN NATIONAL, SBC RANKINGS
South Alabama ranks fourth nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (6.20), sixth in WHIP (1.05), seventh in ERA (2.64), and 22nd in sacrifice bunts (13). USA leads the Sun Belt Conference in ERA, opposing batting average (.193), fewest hits allowed (115), runs allowed (62), earned runs allowed (49) and walks allowed (60). The Jags rank third in the league in batting average (.294), runs scored (134), hits allowed (191) and RBIs (117).

JAGS WIN STREAK SNAPPED AGAINST AUBURN
USA's 13-12 loss to Auburn Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala., snapped a seven-game Jaguar win streak. During its most recent seven-game streak, which tied its previous season-long win streak from Feb. 25 - March 6, the Jags batted .325 with 13 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, 59 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and .413 team on-base percentage. Defensively, the Jaguars fielded .982 during the streak, while the pitching staff posted a 2.49 ERA, two saves, one shutout, 57 strikeouts and 22 walks in 65 innings while limiting opponents to a .185 batting average. Charles Middleton batted a team-best .517 (15-for-29) with one double, four home runs, 12 RBIs, nine runs scored, .966 slugging percentage and .576 OBP in that span.

JAGS OFF TO HOT START IN SBC PLAY
South Alabama swept a three-game series from UT Arlington last weekend at Stanky Field to open Sun Belt Conference play. The Jags hit .340 with six doubles, three home runs, 32 RBIs, 35 runs scored, eight stolen bases and a .450 on-base percentage in three games against the Mavericks, while committing two erros defensively. 

JAG LONGBALLS
South Alabama has hit 12 home runs in its last nine games, dating back to a March 8 contest at Southern Miss, and has homered in four of its last five games entering Friday's series opener. Santi Montiel has hit five home runs in his last eight games dating back to the March 11 series opener at Jacksonville State. 

JAGS IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL RANKINGS
South Alabama was ranked No. 29 in this week's Collegiate Baseball News top-30 poll, marking the first time this season the Jags have been ranked by an organization.

JAG OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
The South Alabama offense has scored 11 or more runs in its last four games, and has recorded 10 or more hits in eight straight contests entering the weekend. The Jag offense has also recorded 10 or more RBIs in its last four games.

BOZ IN SBC RANKINGS
Saturday starter right-hander Matt Boswell ranks second in the SBC in strikeouts (38), tied for eighth in walks allowed (6) and 10th in opposing batting average (.208). Boswell has allowed three or fewer earned runs in four of his five starts this season.

JAGUAR BULLPEN
The South Alabama bullpen carries a 2.47 ERA with seven saves, 76 strikeouts against 37 walks in 73 innings pitched and a .202 opponent batting average into Tuesday's game.

151 AND COUNTING
Shortstop Santi Montiel has started 151 consecutive games - every game since he joined the program in 2019 - with his 150th coming in last Sunday's series finale with UT Arlington. 

TISSUE AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS IN SAC BUNTS
Third baseman Cameron Tissue enters the weekend ranked seventh nationally in sacrifice bunts (5), and ninth in sacrifice bunts per game (0.31). Tissue ranks third in the SBC in sac bunts entering the series opener.

BOOKER CAREER VERSUS CAJUNS
Sunday starter right-hander JoJo Booker is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in three career appearances against Louisiana, and has recorded seven strikeouts against 10 walks and limited Cajun hitters to a .178 batting average.

5 OR FEWER
The Jaguars are 14-1 when allowing five or fewer runs this season, and 1-3 when opponents score six or more.

OUTHITTING THE OPPOSITION
South Alabama has outhit opponents in 15 of 19 games this season, with the exceptions coming against Tennessee Tech (Feb. 20) when the Jags and Golden Eagles finished with 11 hits apiece, at Southern Miss (March 8) when USM outhit the Jaguars 9-5, at New Orleans (March 15) where the Privateers outhit USA 8-6 and against Auburn (March 22) when the Jags and Tigers finished with 15 hits each.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. 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.