Notes 
        Jaguar Classic

Eastern Kentucky Colonels | Northwestern State Demons
South Alabama Jaguars | UAB Blazers

Feb. 17-19 • Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, Ala.

Fri., Feb. 17
Noon | UAB vs. Eastern Kentucky
6:30 p.m. | Northwestern State at South Alabama

Sat., Feb. 18
11 a.m. | Northwestern State vs. UAB
3 p.m. | Eastern Kentucky at South Alabama (DH)

Sun., Feb. 19
11 a.m. | Eastern Kentucky vs. Northwestern State
3 p.m. | UAB at South Alabama

Media Information
Live Stream:  Only Sunday's game between South Alabama and UAB will be streamed, and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and available through the WatchESPN app as well as via link through the Jaguar baseball schedule page at USAJaguars.com. J.D. Byars will handle play-by-play duties.

On the Radio:  Jaguar 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 Jaguar baseball schedule page at USAJaguars.com.

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

Probable Starting Pitchers
Fri., Feb. 17 | 6:30 p.m.
USA - RHP  Jeremy Lee (0-0)
NSU - LHP  Cal Carver (0-0)

Sat., Feb. 18 | 3 p.m.
USA - LHP  Gehrig Conard (0-0)
EKU - RHP  Rese Brown (0-0)

Sat., Feb. 18 | TBA
USA - LHP  Garfield Johns (0-0)
EKU - LHP  Isaac Milburn (0-0)

Sun., Feb. 19 | 3 p.m.
USA - TBA
UAB - RHP  Brooks Walton (0-0)
 
 All-Time Series
South Alabama is 5-1 all-time against Northwestern State in a series that dates back to 1992. The Jaguars swept the Demons in a three-game series in Natchitoches, La., in 2021, which marked the last meeting between the schools. 

Saturday's doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky marks the first-ever meeting between the schools. Former South Alabama assistant coach (2016-20) Chris Prothro serves as the head coach at EKU.

The Jaguars are 52-32 all-time against UAB in a series that dates back to 1979. South Alabama fell to the Blazers 13-8 at the 2009 QTI Baylor Classic in Waco, Texas, which marked the last meeting between the schools.

2022 All-SBC Pick
Jaguar second baseman Erick Orbeta was a 2022 Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection after batting .340 with nine doubles, one triple, 30 RBIs, 47 runs scored and one stolen base while posting a .444 on-base percentage in 50 games. Orbeta ranked third in the conference in walks (38), seventh in batting average (.367) in league games, tied for seventh in walks (19) and RBIs (27), and eighth in OBP (.458). He hit .367 with six doubles, 27 RBIs and 23 runs scored while posting a .458 OBP in 27 Sun Belt Conference contests. Orbeta recorded 23 multiple-hit and eight multi-RBI games in 2022, and  committed just two errors in 125 total chances for a .984 fielding percentage on the season. 

RETURNING 2021 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
South Alabama right-hander Jeremy Lee returns for 2022 after missing most of last season due to an arm injury. Lee was a 2021 Freshman All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball after going 3-2 with one save in 11 appearances, nine of which were starts, and 68 strikeouts against nine walks in 52 innings pitched. He became the program's 13th Freshman All-American, and the first since Ethan Wilson (OF) in 2019.

JAGS PICKED TO FINISH 6TH
The Jaguars were picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference in a preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. Southern Miss was picked to win the conference with 11 of 12 first place votes. Texas State (T-2nd), Louisiana (4th) and Coastal Carolina (5th) each received one first-place vote.

HITTING STREAKS, ON-BASE STREAKS
Jaguar second baseman Erick Orbeta enters 2023 with a four-game hitting streak and six-game on-base streak. Center fielder Will Turner carries a three-game on-base streak into the season opener after reaching safely in the final three games of the 2022 season.

JAGS RETURN 16 LETTERWINNERS, WELCOME 24 NEWCOMERS
South Alabama returns 16 letterwinners, two of which redshirted in 2022 (Jeremy Lee and Sam Knowlton), from last season and added 24 newcomers to the 2023 roster. The Jags added six left-handed pitchers to the squad for this season, including Jake Bruning who transferred to USA after a four-year career at Niagara.

JAGS IN SEASON OPENERS UNDER CALVI
South Alabama is 7-4 all-time in season openers under Head Coach Mark Calvi, who enters his 12th season with the program in 2023. The Jags defeated Radford 6-5 at Stanky Field in the 2022 season opener.

REYNOLDS JOINS JAGUAR COACHING STAFF
South Alabama assistant coach Corley Reynolds joined the staff at the conclusion of the 2022 season following the retirement of Alan Luckie, who spent 16 years with the program as a volunteer assistant coach from 2007-22. Reynolds served as first-base coach for South Alabama for two seasons (2021-22) after two years as an assistant coach at Southwest Mississippi Community College (2019-20) where he began his coaching career.

2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Player of the Year
Noah Ledford, Georgia Southern (R-Sr., DH – Buford, Ga.)  
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Tanner Hall, Southern Miss (Jr., SP – Zachary, La.) 

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Tanner Hall, Southern Miss (Jr., SP – Zachary, La.) 
Levi Wells, Texas State (Jr., SP – La Porte, Texas)
Zeke Wood, Texas State (Sr., SP – Paris, Texas)
Triston Dixon, Texas State (Sr., RP – Conroe, Texas)
Julian Brock, Louisiana (Jr., C – Fulshear, Texas)
Carson Roccaforte, Louisiana (Jr., 1B – Port Neches, Texas)
Jesse Sherrill, Georgia Southern (Sr., 2B – Pensacola, Fla.)
Dustin Dickerson, Southern Miss (Jr., SS – Laurel, Miss.) 
Jarrett Brown, Georgia Southern (Jr., 3B – Savannah, Ga.) 
Max Ryerson, Georgia State (Sr., OF – Conway, S.C.) 
Carson Paetow, Southern Miss (So., OF – Vancleave, Miss.) 
Jose Gonzalez, Texas State (Sr., OF – Spring, Texas) 
Noah Ledford, Georgia Southern (R-Sr., DH – Buford, Ga.) 
Cameron Jones, Georgia State (Jr., UT – Kathleen, Ga.)
 
2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Southern Miss (11) – 192
T2. Georgia Southern – 158
T2. Texas State (1) – 158
4. Louisiana (1) – 154
5. Coastal Carolina (1) – 151
6. South Alabama – 123
7. Old Dominion – 116
8. Troy – 109 
9. Georgia State – 76
10. James Madison – 73
11. ULM – 58
12. App State – 43
13. Marshall – 36
14. Arkansas State – 23
        
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama baseball, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaBSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @southalabamabsb (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.