MOBILE, Ala. - After taking its third consecutive Sun Belt Conference series over the weekend, University of South Alabama baseball will host Southern Mississippi in a midweek contest Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field.
USA (17-10, 7-2 SBC) scored double digits in every game of this weekend's series, and tied a season-high with 15 runs in game three, which marked the first time South Alabama has run-ruled an opponent on the road since 2003. The Jaguars hit .363 in the three-game series with eight doubles, one triple, five home runs and 32 RBI, and scored 35 runs while collecting 45 hits over the weekend for an average of 11.7 runs and 15 hits per game. This past weekend marked the first time USA has scored 10 or more runs in three consecutive games since 2008. Jaguar pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts against six walks in three games against Middle Tennessee.
Left-hander Lance Baxter (3-0) pitched a complete-game shutout against Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon, allowing just four hits while striking out three, and issuing only one walk, while limiting the Blue Raiders to a .174 batting average. For his performance, the Robertsdale, Ala., native was named the SBC Pitcher of the Week. His shutout Saturday afternoon lowered his earned run average to 1.53. Entering the weekend, Middle Tennessee ranked second in the conference in hitting with a team batting average of .333. Baxter leads the SBC in ERA, and is tied for fourth in the league in saves (3) while holding opponents to a .212 batting average, which ranks third in the conference.
Junior third baseman Jake Overstreet hit .667 (10-for-15) over the weekend with four home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored. The Thomasville, Ala., native was one of just six players to be named to the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week list by Collegiate Baseball Monday, along with being named SBC Player of the Week. He leads the SBC in RBI (44) and RBI per game (1.63).
Overstreet hit two home runs in consecutive games in Saturday's doubleheader against Middle Tennessee, including a career-high seven-RBI performance in the Jaguars' 15-0 series-clinching win in game three Saturday afternoon, when he collected 10 total bases. He recorded multiple hits in each game this weekend, with three hits in games one and two, and capped the series with a four-hit performance late Saturday afternoon. Overstreet homered in consecutive innings in game three, marking the first time a Jaguar has done so since David Doss accomplished the feat March 7, 2009, against UAB
Second baseman Zach Grichor extended his on-base streak to 28 games over the weekend, dating back to May 21 of last season. The Spring, Texas, native leads the SBC in hits (44), is tied for second in runs scored (36) and third in on-base percentage (.508). Junior catcher Brent Tanner extended his on-base streak to 23 games.
USA is 52-26 all-time against Southern Miss after dropping two games to the Golden Eagles last season. The Jags are 29-10 all-time against USM at Stanky Field, and 29-19 against Southern Miss under head coach Steve Kittrell.
Right-hander Chad Reeves (0-0) is scheduled to make his first career start on the mound for the Jaguars. Reeves has made four appearances out of the USA bullpen this season, allowing five runs on five hits in 4.0 innings pitched.
Southern Miss (14-8, 1-2 C-USA) enters Tuesday's after dropping two of three games to UAB to open Conference USA play. The Golden Eagles are 2-3 in their last five games with wins over Louisiana Tech and UAB, and losses to the Blazers and Ole Miss.
Designated hitter Adam Doleac leads the Golden Eagles in batting average (.482), on-base percentage (.579) and slugging percentage (.821), is tied for the team lead in home runs (3) and walks (12), and ranks second in doubles (8) and RBI (24).
Left-hander Mandella Mingo (0-1) is scheduled to make his first start of the season on the mound for USM. Mingo, a sophomore transfer from Meridian Community College, carries a 6.35 ERA into Tuesday's matchup with six runs allowed in 5.2 innings pitched. He has struck out seven while issuing three walks this season, with opponents hitting .318 against him.
Tuesday's game will be broadcast live on WNSP 105.5 FM in Mobile, and can be accessed nationwide at www.wnsp.com.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
- USA -
Scheduled starters
Tue., March 30
USA - Chad Reeves (RHP, 0-0)
USM - Mandella Mingo (LHP, 0-1)
