MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (12-15) will open April hosting Southeastern Louisiana (22-6) for the second game against a Southland Conference member on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
South Alabama enters after dropping the rubber match game against No. 13 Southern Miss on Sunday in 12 innings, 8-7. The Jags won Saturday holding off the Golden Eagles, 6-3 after a Friday night 8-2 loss.
PROJECTED STARTERS
USA: #23 RHP
Tyler Smith (5 Starts, 2-1, 7.84 ERA, 12Ks)
SLU: #36 LHP Nik Toups (1 Start, 1-0, 12.27 ERA, 1 K)
SERIES HISTORY
South Alabama has faced Southeastern Louisiana 70 times since 1984. The Jaguars are 45-25 all-time, but is only 4-6 in the last 10 games, reaching back to 2017. USA and SLU are playing in a midweek home-and-home series for the second season in a row. South Alabama won both contests last season, with the Jags run-ruling the Lions in Hammond, La., 13-1 last May.
From 1990 to 1993, South Alabama ran a 12-game win streak over Southeastern, with the Lions' longest win streak being five games, stretching from 2014 to 2016.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
SELU enters the contest after taking a weekend series over New Orleans, losing Friday and winning the final two games. The Lions are 4-2 in midweek standalone games. two of those games came against fellow Sun Belt member Louisiana, which the series was split, with the home team winning both games. From an RPI-standpoint, SLU is 51st, with their lone "Quad 1" win over RPI No. 13 Xavier at home.
LUCKY NUMBER 13
Working his first three appearances out of the pen,
Mitchell Heer threw 7.1 innings and allowed four runs, with a 1-0 record. In his first two starts this season, Heer has thrown 12.1 innings and only allowed four total runs, with both starts meeting the qualifications for a "Quality Start", going at least 6.0 innings and allowing three or fewer earned runs. Heer is 2-0 as a starter.
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.
