MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama baseball released its 2015 schedule this week, a slate that includes nine teams that played in NCAA regionals last season and two that reached super regionals.
The Jaguars will play 16 of their first 17 games at Eddie Stanky Field, with home dates against Auburn, Maryland, Arkansas and Mississippi State among the highlights of the schedule.
Home-Heavy Start
South Alabama opens the season with a three-game series against New Orleans on Feb. 13-15 at Stanky Field. Auburn visits on Feb. 17.
The Jaguars then host a weekend tournament Feb. 20-22 featuring Maryland, a 2014 super regional participant; Arkansas, which reached the championship game of the NCAA Charlottesville Regional last season; and Central Florida.
South Alabama’s only February road game is a midweek trip to Montgomery to face Alabama State on Feb. 24. The Jaguars return home to play Brown in four games over three days, Feb. 27 through March 1, and then host Southern Miss on March 3.
Sun Belt Play Opens Against UALR
South Alabama opens Sun Belt Conference play at home against Arkansas-Little Rock on March 6-8.
Other notable dates include:
- March 10: Southeastern Louisiana
- March 17: Alabama State, in Mobile
- March 31: Mississippi State, runner-up at the Lafayette Regional last season, at Stanky Field
- April 1: Jackson State, at home
The 2015 Sun Belt Conference tournament is scheduled for May 20-24 in Troy.
Calvi on the Schedule
Head coach Mark Calvi said the schedule was built with the postseason and the Ratings Percentage Index in mind.
“It used to be that 40 wins was the benchmark to get into the Regionals, but now there are teams with 40 or more wins that get left out because their RPI is lower than a team with fewer wins,” Calvi said. “We definitely don’t want to be left out. It’s RPI-driven first and foremost.”
Calvi said the goal each season is to win the Sun Belt and to prepare players for the level of competition they will see in the postseason. “It’s a tough schedule, but we feel good with it,” he said. “There’s not a lot of wiggle room, but it creates excitement within our program and with the fans. It’s a great home slate; we’re excited about it.”
Calvi on the Sun Belt
Calvi described the Sun Belt as very strong and pointed to the addition of Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, both newcomers to the league from the Southern Conference.
Calvi, who faced Georgia Southern while on staff at South Carolina, called the Eagles a consistent regional team with an experienced coaching staff. “They definitely add some strength to the league,” he said, describing Georgia Southern and Appalachian State as “two very competitive programs.”
“We want to make this a three or four-team league in regard to the postseason,” Calvi said. “I think it is as competitive as ever, but we’ll see.”
