MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (15-20, 5-10 SBC) will play three games against the Bobcats of Texas State (18-18, 7-8 SBC) to cross the midpoint of the conference slate.

Following a tough conference series loss at Arkansas State and a walk-off loss at Alabama State, the Jaguars return to Stanky Field for a Thursday-Saturday series heading into Easter weekend.

PROJECTED STARTING ROTATION
Thursday- 6:30 p.m.
USA- #10 LHP Jaxon Shineflew (2-2)
TXST- #7 LHP Alex Valentin (4-3)

Friday- 6:30 p.m.
USA- #13 RHP Mitchell Heer (5-0)
TXST- #13 LHP Jesus Tovar (1-3)

Saturday- 1 p.m.
USA- #27 LHP Zach Willingham (2-4)
TXST- #31 RHP Shane Connell (0-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY

With a 20-10 overall record over Texas State, USA has won eight of the 10 series played between the two programs. The Jaguars have won all four of the series played in Mobile, with a 9-3 overall record. The last time the Bobcats won a series was 2022, and the Jags took the series in a rubber match win in 2024. All three games last season wee decided by three runs or fewer.

.500 on the season, and one game under .500 in conference, Texas State is an impressive 4-2 against ranked opponents. Wins over #19 Oklahoma State, #1 Texas A&M, and #5 Texas in midweeks are offset by a conference series loss to #23 Southern Miss, and midweek losses to Incarnate Word, TCU, UTSA, and a midweek split with Baylor. In conference, TXST has swept Arkansas State, gotten swept by App State, lost a series to Coastal Carolina, and won a series over Louisiana.

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 four starts this season, Heer has thrown 26.0 innings and only allowed nine total runs, with all four starts meeting the qualifications for a "Quality Start", going at least 6.0 innings and allowing three or fewer earned runs. Heer is 4-0 as a starter. In his fourth outing as a starter, Heer tossed a career 7.1 innings, tying his career batters faced, and threw a season-tying 95 pitches in the win over Arkansas State.

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