CONWAY, S.C. - South Alabama (18-11, 5-4 SBC) opens the month of April traveling to No. 14 Coastal Carolina (21-7, 9-0 SBC) for a three-game set at Springs Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C. Thursday's series opener is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (EST).

The series continues on Friday with first pitch at 6:00 p.m., while Saturday's series finale is slated for 11:00 a.m. (EST).


SERIES HISTORY
Coastal Carolina and South Alabama have 26 all-time games between the two programs where Coastal has the advantage 16-10 in the series. The programs first met in 2005, but did not square after its initial series until 2017 after Coastal's Sun Belt Conference entry in July 2016 following its National Championship season. The Jags have not visited Conway since the 2022 season, where the Chants took two of three games with victories on Friday and Sunday. The most recent series between the two squads came in 2023 at Stanky Field and resulted in a Coastal Carolina sweep of the Jags. The Chants have a 4-6 edge in the last 10 meetings dating back to 2021.


SCOUTING THE CHANTS
Coastal Carolina enters the series hosting South Alabama as the nation's No. 14 ranked program and pushed its win streak to eight games after a late-inning victory over The Citadel on Tuesday night. The Chants' season is highlighted by a perfect 9-0 SBC record across the first three conference series, completing sweeps over App State, JMU and Marshall. Opening weekend's sweep over Fairfield totals four sweeps in seven weeks. Coastal brings a 2-2 record when squaring with nationally ranked opponents this season. Wins over then-No.25 Ole Miss and then-No.15 Wake Forest are evened by losses to then-No. 3 Texas and then-No. 13 NC State, but all reflect its RPI which sits at 13 entering South Alabama - with a 3-1 record in Quad 1 play.


PITCHING PROBABLES & LIVE ACTION OUTLETS
Friday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Mitchell Heer (4-0, 4.08 ERA)
Coastal Carolina - Luke Jones (1-1, 3.78 ERA)

Saturday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Ryland Bozenhard (0-1, 4.39 ERA)
Coastal Carolina - Ross Norman (4-2, 5.91 ERA)

Sunday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Daniel Gonzalez (3-2, 2.97)
Coastal Carolina - TBD


PRIMARY THREADS

• The Jags have won two series of three in conference thus far to reflect a 5-4 SBC record. Heading into a weekend test vs. No. 14 Coastal, the Jags dropped a midweek by a 2-1 final score vs. New Orleans.
• It is no mistake the Jaguars are 7-0 to start the season on Friday nights when Mitchell Heer is on the hill. Heer has a team-leading three Quality Starts in seven appearances, alongside a perfect 4-0 record (2nd most wins in SBC) with a 4.08 ERA.
• Heading into his fifth Saturday start for the Jags - Right-hander Ryland Bozenhard started the season with two appearances out of the bullpen for a 6.75 ERA in 6.2 innings, but has since transitioned to a starter role highlighted by back to back 5.2 inning starts vs. LA Tech and Louisiana and allowed only four earned combined. Last time out, delivered 4.2 scoreless innings for a no decision vs. ODU.
• Former ULM Friday night arm Daniel Gonzalez has been the Sunday regular for the Jags. Gonzo leads the Jaguar pitching staff in strikeouts (44), and recorded a career-high 9 strikeouts vs. West Georgia. Threw the first Jaguar seven-inning CG since 2023 against ODU in rubber match victory for his second Quality Start and tied his career high in K's (9). He's been a serious competitor with a 2.97 ERA (leads starters) and six of seven starts have been 5.0+ IP.
• Among go-to relievers in the bullpen is Jaxon Shineflew, who arguably has had the most dominant appearance on the hill thus far against Charleston and West Georgia, posting absolutely identical appearances in 4.0 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 ER, and the save in both. The southpaw tacked on another 5.2 scoreless innings over the weekend at Louisiana to push his scoreless streak to 18.2 innings consecutively, but snapped the streak allowing an earned run vs. ULM after 19.1 scoreless. Shineflew ranks 1st in the Sun Belt in the WHIP category (0.82).
• Blake Guerin - team leader in homers and tied for first in the Sun Belt (10) and 3rd in SLG% (.691) - has the ability to take over a series offensively and has done it already against Charleston (4-7, 1 HR, 6 RBI) and West Georgia (5-9, 2 HR, 5 RBI), before smashing a homer in each game over the weekend vs. ULM and collected nine RBI in the week span including the Alabama game (3/17). In that same span, the senior slugged 1.083. Crushed his 20th career HR against ODU on Sunday, as part of a 4-4 game with two big fly's.
• Second baseman Brennon Wright has currently ranked 7th in the SBC in batting average (.383), 4th in hits (41), and 2nd in on-base percentage (.504). Ranked 19th nationally among Division I 2nd basemen and 6th among Mid Majors (D1Baseball).

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