Notes

Nicholls State Colonels (3-1)
             at
South Alabama Jaguars (3-1)

Wed., Feb. 22 • 6:30 p.m. • Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, Ala.

Media Information
Live Stream:  The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and available through the WatchESPN app, and can also be accessed 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
Wed., Feb. 22 | 6:30 p.m.
USA - RHP  Tyler Smith (0-0)
NSU - TBA

 
All-Time Series
South Alabama owns a 33-18 all-time lead over Nicholls State in a series that dates back to 1974. The Jaguars defeated the Colonels 6-3 in 2019 at Stanky Field, which marked the last meeting between the schools. NSU's last win over USA came in a 5-4 victory in Biloxi, Miss., in 2016. South Alabama is 3-5 all-time against Nicholls State under Head Coach Mark Calvi.

JAGS SET PROGRAM RECORD FOR WALKS
South Alabama drew 20 walks in Saturday's 26-6 win over Eastern Kentucky, which set a new program record. The previous record for walks in a game came on April 8, 1979, when the Jags drew 18 walks against Alabama.

CAREER HIGHS SET IN RBIs
Center fielder Will Turner recorded a career-high five RBIs in last Saturday's 26-6 win over Eastern Kentucky. The Auburn, Ala., native has hit safely in all four games this season, and driven in runs in three of four contests. Catcher Diego Altamirano also set a career high in RBIs against EKU with four in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, bettering his previous high of three which he recorded twice last season.

HITTING STREAKS, ON-BASE STREAKS
Center fielder Will Turner carries a seven-game on-base streak into the contest, dating back to last season, after reaching safely in the final three games of the 2022 season and in all four games last weekend in the Jaguar Classic. Turner also owns a team-best four-game hit streak, followed Cole Ketzner with a three-game hit streak.

WOOD TIED FOR NATIONAL LEAD IN SAVES
Right-handed pitcher Grant Wood recorded two saves in two appearances last weekend, which ranks tied for the national lead and also leads the Sun Belt Conference. He struck out two in one scoreless inning against Northwestern State in Friday's season opener for his first save of the year, followed by a six-out save in Sunday's game against UAB with a career-high four strikeouts in two innings pitched. 

THRASHER LEADING SBC IN WALKS PER GAME
Austin Thrasher enters the week tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead in walks per game (1.67). Thrasher has drawn five walks in 12 official plate appearances, including four in Saturday's win over Eastern Kentucky.

JAGS IN TOP 10 NATIONALLY IN WALKS, SAC BUNTS
South Alabama leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks seventh nationally in walks (30). The Jags rank 10th in the country in sacrifice bunts (3), which ranks second in the SBC.

EXTRA-BASE HIT PRODUCTION
The Jaguars have recorded 12 extra-base hits (10 doubles, 2 triples) in four games this season, which accounts for nearly 33 percent of their hit total of 37. USA's 10 doubles ranks 13th nationally and second in the conference.

JAGS PLATE 26 RUNS VERSUS EKU, MOST IN 6 SEASONS
South Alabama scored 26 runs in its win over Eastern Kentucky last Saturday at Stanky Field, which marked the most by a Jaguar team since Feb. 18, 2017, when the Jags plated 32 runs in a win over Eastern Illinois. USA scored 11 runs in the seventh inning of the game, which marked the most in an inning since the Jags scored 11 runs against Jackson State on Feb. 21, 2012.

SHUT OUT FOR FIRST TIME SINCE NCAA REGIONAL
Eastern Kentucky shut out South Alabama 2-0 in game one of last Saturday's doubleheader at Stanky Field, which marked the first time the Jaguars have been shut out since June 4, 2021, when Miami (FL) defeated USA 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Gainesville (Fla.) Regional.

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 University South Alabama baseball, follow the Jaguars on social media @SouthAlabamaBSB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaAthletics (Facebook), @southalabamabsb on Instagram, or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at USAJaguars.com.