TROY, Ala. - South Alabama (30-18, 14-10 SBC) matches up with long-time rival Troy (24-25, 13-11 SBC) in a marquee Sun Belt Conference showdown and final Jaguar road trip of the regular season opening on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. (CT).

The series continues on Saturday at 3:33 p.m., while the series finale is slated for Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Just one game separates the conference rivals in fourth and fifth place as the final two regular season series' approach. The Jaguars aim to extend its series-winning streak at Riddle-Pace Field, having won three consecutive series dating back to 2018.


SERIES HISTORY
South Alabama and Troy have one of the most storied rivalries not only in the sport, but in college athletics as a whole. With 104 games in the record books on the diamond, the Jaguars lead the all-time series 58-47. However, in games played since 2006, the two rivals have matched-up just shy of the .500 mark with a 36-35 record in favor of Troy. The Trojans hold the advantage in games played at Troy by a 26-21 edge. The Jaguars last visited Troy in the 2024 season and clinched the series with Friday and Saturday victories, but dropped the finale by a run. South Alabama has not dropped a series at Troy since 2018. Then-No.20 Troy took a trip to Stanky Field for the most recent meeting between the two squads in 2025 and secured the series in the Sunday rubber game, 6-5.


SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The Trojans sit one game back of the Jaguars in the Sun Belt Conference standings in 5th place (13-11 SBC). The Mountaineers of App State took two of three from Troy in its most recent conference series after it swept Saturday's doubleheader to clinch the series. Troy rolled into a midweek showdown with No. 17 Alabama following the series and won the contest in front of a record crowd. Troy's 59 RPI is just ahead of South Alabama 65 RPI, guided by its 13th ranked strength of schedule and a 3-4 record versus ranked opponents, while recording a 6-9 record among Quad 1 opponents this season. The Trojans follow the South Alabama series with a midweek with UAB and end the regular season in a weekend set at ULM.


PITCHING PROBABLES & LIVE ACTION OUTLETS
Friday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Mitchell Heer, RHP (4-1, 4.45 ERA)
Troy - Benjamin Stubbs, LHP (3-2, 4.62 ERA)

Saturday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Ryland Bozenhard, RHP (2-2, 6.07 ERA)
Troy - Tommy Egan, RHP (5-3, 4.34 ERA)

Sunday: ESPN+, Jags Radio Network
South Alabama - Daniel Gonzalez, RHP (4-2, 3.84 ERA)
Troy - Hayden Smith, LHP (2-0, 3.03 ERA)


PRIMARY THREADS
South Alabama kicked off week 12 with a midweek victory at New Orleans, followed by completing a conference sweep over Texas State to secure its first 4-0 week this season. South Alabama travels to Troy to take on its rival in a marquee weekend set amid the compact Sun Belt standings.


BROUGHT OUT THE BROOMS
The conference sweep over Texas State marks the first for the Jaguars since the 2022 season (ULM, May 13-15). The Jaguars won the last four consecutive series over the Bobcats leading up to its departure to the Pac-12 and swept the program for the first time since 2017.


SURGING SOUTH ALABAMA
The Jaguar RPI number was 83 upon entering the series with the Bobcats, and made the biggest jump in the country when it improved to 64 following the weekend sweep. The finale marked the Jags 30th win of the season and claimed the quickest road to the 30 win mark since the 2016 season. South Alabama has won a season-high five straight games and 11 of its last 14.


SHUTDOWN, SHUTOUT BULLPEN
Over the course of the 4-0 week, the Jaguar bullpen combined to not allow an earned run across 19 innings and punched out 25. Tyler Smith and Jacob Haley both set career-highs in the innings pitched and strikeout columns. Haley made two appearances over the week, first at UNO, shoving two hitless frames with four K's. He made his second appearance in the finale at Texas State for his career-highs of 3.2 IP and 5 K's. Smith was in cruise control on Saturday against the Bobcats, for his career-highs of 6.0 shutout IP and 5 K's, while only allowing a hit. Zach Stevens, who delivered 4.1 innings of work in relief on Friday night earned the win, along with both Smith and Haley on Saturday and Sunday respectively.


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.