MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (25-16, 10-8 SBC) preps for a massive weekend set hosting No. 18 Southern Miss (29-12, 11-7 SBC) opening Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (CT).

The series continues on Saturday with first pitch at 2:00 p.m., while Saturday's series finale is slated for 1:00 p.m. (CT).

The second-place Golden Eagles sit four games back of first-place Coastal Carolina, while South Alabama is in a three-way tie for third place in the league standings alongside Troy and App State, but just one game back of Southern Miss.


SERIES HISTORY
One of the richer histories in college baseball is the relationship between the South Alabama and Southern Miss programs. 116 games between the two squads tells of a Jaguar all-time series advantage of 69-47 which holds a history of the vast majority being midweek match-ups, due to the Golden Eagles being a member of Conference USA lasting from 1995-2022. Since its inception to the Sun Belt Conference in 2023 and over the course of history, the Jaguars have never won a weekend series against the Golden Eagles. The previous weekend set played at Stanky Field occurred in 2024 when the Jags avoided a weekend sweep with a Sunday victory. However, the Jags lead all-time games played at Eddie Stanky Field 38-17. The most recent meeting came in Hattiesburg in 2025, when then-No. 13 Southern Miss took the rubber match by an 8-7 final score in extras (F/12).


SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Sitting at a 10 RPI heading into the series at South Alabama, No. 18 Southern Miss has posted an impressive 2026 campaign boasting a 6-2 record against Power Four schools, placing them at No. 8 in the Strength of Schedule rankings. The Golden Eagles have dropped just two series this season - Arkansas State and Louisiana, but are coming off a sweep over Texas State. South Alabama falls under the Quad 2 category for Southern Miss where it has an 11-1 record among Q2 opponents. The 11-7 conference record places the program standing alone in second place in the Sun Belt standings heading into weekend 11, taking on the third-place Jaguars who are in a three-way tie for the spot just a game back of USM.


PITCHING PROBABLES & LIVE ACTION OUTLETS
Friday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Mitchell Heer, RHP (4-1, 4.76 ERA)
Southern Miss - Grayden Harris, LHP (7-1, 3.20 ERA)


Saturday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Ryland Bozenhard, RHP (2-1, 4.61 ERA)
Southern Miss - Camden Sunstrom, RHP (3-3, 2.57 ERA)


Sunday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Daniel Gonzalez, RHP (4-2, 3.55 ERA)
Southern Miss - Camden Clark, RHP (5-0, 1.69 ERA)


PRIMARY THREADS

• After dropping its first Friday night game at home this season, the Jags responded by taking the Saturday and Sunday games over Marshall to secure its fourth Sun Belt series victory this season. South Alabama heads into the Southern Miss series fresh off a midweek victory over Lamar to open week 11.
• Situational and timely hitting has been effective, where we've seen 15 sacrifice fly's and 35 sac bunts (3rd in SBC) as a team. Brennon Wright leads the sticks in hits (57) and batting average (.365), and Blake Guerin crushed two homers over the weekend at Georgia Southern for his Sun Belt-best 13th of the season.

SHUT DOWN STEVENS
Zach Stevens has been lights out in relief in his junior season. He has allowed just four earned runs across 27.2 IP thus far and currently on a 13.2 inning scoreless streak over the course of his last six appearances. Set a single-season career high in strikeouts after surpassing the 30 mark, and currently has 38 punchouts. Tied for the team-lead in wins with 4.


CHANGE OF SCENERY
After being the regular three-hole in the Jaguar batting order, Marc Stephens was moved to the seven-spot for the first time in game two at No. 14 Coastal. The shortstop has hit .390 since the move in the lineup with a .468 OBP over the 11-game span.


WRIGHT GUY
As of 4/23 - Brennon Wright has currently ranked 6th in the SBC in batting average (.365), 2nd in hits (57), and 6th in on-base percentage (.471). Ranked 19th nationally among Division I 2nd basemen and 6th among Mid Majors (D1Baseball).


WEEKEND ROTATION
Friday - Mitchell Heer - The familiar face has been a tone setter as the Friday face thus far for the Jaguars. Heer has a team-leading four Quality Starts in 10 appearances, alongside a 4-2 record with a 4.76 ERA. Heer set a new career-high in the strikeouts category with 11 vs. LA Tech (3/6). In arguably his best start of the season and definitely his most efficient, Heer delivered a career-high 7.2 IP in just 87 pitches on Friday at Georgia Southern with 8 K for a no-decision.

Saturday - Ryland Bozenhard - Heading into his seventh Saturday start for the Jags -  The right-hander 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. In a clutch outing in a game that was decided early at No. 14 Coastal, went 3.2 scoreless to set up the Jags for a 15-2 victory. Earned his first win of the season at Georgia Southern and followed up with another win vs. Marshall last time out in 5.2 IP.

Sunday - Daniel Gonzalez - The former ULM Friday night arm has been the Sunday regular for the Jags. Gonzo leads the Jaguar pitching staff in strikeouts (49), 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 3.55 ERA (leads starters) and eight of 10 starts have been 5.0+ IP.


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.