MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama returns this weekend to host a three-game Sun Belt Conference series as the Jags welcome Georgia Southern to Jaguar Field. Game one of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m., with games two and three set for Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon, respectively.

Prior to Friday's series opener, senior pitcher Olivia Lackie will be recognized, and on Sunday, graduate student Mackenzie Brasher will be honored. Saturday's contest will mark the annual "Teal Game" for the program.

South Alabama (21-14-1, 7-5 SBC) comes into the series with Georgia Southern (20-16, 4-8 SBC) after picking up a SBC road sweep at App State over the weekend. 

Lackie picked up a pair of games and her first save of the spring, as she tossed 16.0 innings in the circle allowing just one earned run, scattered 11 hits, struck out 14 and held the Mountaineers to a 0.44 earned run average in the series, and was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week for a program record 12th time.

South was originally scheduled to travel to take on Mississippi State on Wednesday, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Brasher leads the club at the plate with a .325 batting average, while also leading the team in hits (41), runs scored (26) and stolen bases (21). Brasher's 21 steals lead the Sun Belt Conference and are tied for 16th-most nationally. 

Gabby Stagner (.318) ranks second on the roster in batting average and her .692 slugging percentage is fifth-best in the Sun Belt. The Mobile, Ala., native is tied for third in the league in home runs (8), tied for seventh in doubles (10) and tied for the SBC lead in triples with three, while she sits just outside the Top 10 in RBI (30). Of the junior's team-high 34 hits on the year with 21 of those going for extra bases.

Brasher leads the team with 11 multi-hit games, while Stagner is close behind her with eight.

Sasha Willems has had a hit in eight of her last 10, recording 10 hits and two walks over that stretch, raising her batting average to .274. Bailey Welch is batting .323 in conference play with 10 hits, five walks and her 17 total bases are tied with Stagner for the most in league play

In the circle, Lackie (15-6, 1 SV) holds a 1.53 earned run average, has struck out 151 batters and held opposing batting average (.183), while ranking second in the SBC in all three categories. She ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts, her 15 wins are tied for 13th most in the country, and she is tied for 13th in shutouts with five. As a staff, South Alabama holds eight shutouts this spring, tied for third-most in the Sun Belt.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN SERIES
Site: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)

SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: April 12, 2024 | 6 p.m.
Game 2: April 13, 2024 | 3 p.m.
Game 3: April 14, 2024 | 12 p.m.

South Alabama JAGUARS
NFCA: -- | USA: -- | SA: -- | DI: -- | RPI: 35
Record: 21-14-1, 7-5 SBC

Team Slash Line (AVG / SLG / OBP): .252 / .372 / .315 
Team ERA: 2.88

Georgia Southern EAGLES
NFCA: -- | USA: -- | SA: -- | DI: -- | RPI: 158
Record: 20-16, 4-8 SBC

Team Slash Line (AVG / SLG / OBP): .262 / .343 / .359
Team ERA: 3.17

SERIES INFORMATION
vs. Georgia Southern: USA leads 18-7
In Mobile: USA leads 11-1
In Statesboro: Series tied 6-6
At Neutral Site: USA leads 1-0
Current Streak: USA 6

NOTES
•    South Alabama leads the all-time series 18-7, and has won 11 of the 12 series meetings in Mobile
•    Brasher (134) is two runs scored shy of matching Blair Johnson (136, 2012-15) for fourth all-time in the category, and six hits shy of matching Brittany Fowler (213, 2010-13) for second
•    Brasher has had a hit in nine of her last 11 games, tallying 16 hits over the that stretch, scored a run in four of her last five, and reached base in 11 of her last 12, including each of her last seven straight
•    Stagner (90) is eight RBI shy of moving into the Top 10 of the career category with Stephanie Pilkington (98, 2013-16
•    Stagner comes into the Georgia Southern series with a hit and at least one RBI in each of her last three and has reached base safely in her last four
•    Welch has had a hit in five of her last seven games, and reached base in 11 of her last 14, including each of her last five
•    Willems has had a hit in eight of her last 10, recording 10 hits and two walks over that stretch
•    Stephanie Gonzalez has had a hit and driven in a run in three of her last four outings, and reached base safely in seven of her last eight, including each of her last six

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