Cougar Baseball Returns Home To Face #30 South Alabama

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (4-4) vs. #30 SOUTH ALABAMA (9-0)

Games #9-11

March 1, 2013 • 6:00 p.m. (ET)

March 2, 2013 • 2:00 p.m. (ET

March 3, 2013 • 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Patriots Point Ballpark (2,000)

PROBABLE STARTERS

Day Name Team 2013 Stats

Friday LHP #31 James Traylor USA 1-0, 4.05 ERA, 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 9 K

RHP #22 Matt Pegler CofC 0-0, 0.77 ERA, 11.2 IP, 1 BB, 8 K

Saturday LHP #44 Jacob Noble USA 2-0, 0.77 ERA, 11.2 IP, 4 BB, 15 K

LHP #30 Jake Zokan CofC 0-1, 3.60 ERA, 10.0 IP, 1 BB, 11 K

Sunday RHP #33 Jarron Cito USA 0-0, 4.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 3 BB, 16 K

RHP #20 Nathan Helvey CofC 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 5 K

Leading Off

College of Charleston returns home to face a hot South Alabama team after tallying a season-high 14 hits in a 12-5 win at Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Ryan Welke had career highs in hits (3) and RBIs (3), and Alex Pastorius hit his first career home run, a two-run shot in the fifth inning. The Cougars rallied from a 4-0 deficit with a six-run third inning, and the CofC bullpen only allowed one run after the second inning.

The win was the first time CofC had come from behind to win after the opponent scored first this season. Six runs in a single inning was also a new season high. The win was a big offensive statement after the Cougars only managed five runs and 11 hits the past weekend down in the Auburn Tournament.

The weekend series will be a reuniting of former colleagues as USA head coach Mark Calvi and CofC head coach Monte Lee used to serve together on Ray Tanner’s coaching staff at South Carolina. #30 South Alabama is the first ranked team that CofC has faced this season.

On Air

The weekend series will be broadcast live on the Charleston Sports Network via CofCSports.com. Fans can sign up for single-game packages or can buy monthly and yearly options. With multiple cameras, replays and professional graphic packages, fans get a major league viewing experience for a low price. Jack Ryan will be on the call doing play-by-play.

Series vs. South Alabama

College of Charleston is 3-0 against South Alabama in the all-time series, as the two teams faced each other for the first time last season. The Cougars swept the Jaguars on the road to open the 2012 campaign. Cody Martin hit a game-winning three-run, pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning in the first game, and Christian Powell had a dominating shut-out pitching performance in game three.

Scouting The Jaguars

South Alabama is off to a hot start in 2013, boasting a perfect 9-0 record after winning two mid-week games against Jacksonville State. USA was ranked 30th in the most recent Collegiate Baseball poll as one of just 11 unbeaten teams ranked nationally.

The Jaguars are hitting .323 as a team and have a 2.56 staff ERA. USA has struck 93 batters while walking just 26. OF Nolan Earley leads the team with a .448 batting average and 14 RBI with six doubles and a .655 slugging percentage.

New Year, Same ERA

College of Charleston surprised many with its dominating pitching staff which led the SoCon in multiple categories in 2012. With five pitchers of that staff departed, including four to the minor leagues, some expected 2013 to be a rebuilding year for CofC pitching. However, through the first two weeks of the season the Cougars lead the conference with a staff ERA of 2.70. They are tied first in HR allowed (1) and runners picked off (4), and are fifth in strikeouts (62).

Pegler Dealing But Decisionless

Preseason SoCon Pitcher of the Year Matt Pegler has lived up to the hype in his first two starts. He left the season opener in line for the win, but Xavier tied the game in the late innings. He was also going toe-to-toe in 1-0 game against Preseason All-American Sean Manaea (2/22) before the Cougars later tied it and fell in the 8th inning. Despite having a 0-0 record, Pegler ranks second in the SoCon with an ERA of 0.77. He also has two pick-offs which leads the SoCon.

Freie-ing the Opposition

With the departure of three veteran bullpen arms in David Peterson, Kyle Owings and Nick Osterman, the Cougars have looked to senior Drew Freie to be a veteran presence among the relievers. Freie has answered in a big way, posting a 2-0 record in four appearances. He has punched out a team-high 12 batters in just 11.2 innings pitched which ranks fourth in the SoCon.

Hanzlik Thrown To The Fire

Many College of Charleston fans had not heard of junior transfer RHP Michael Hanzlik when he entered the game on Opening Night against Xavier. Hanzlik pitched an inning and a third of no-hit ball and earned his first career win after the Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Hanzlik has now made four appearances with a 1-1 record and an ERA of 1.59. In every one of his appearances, the game has either been tied or the Cougars have trailed by one run.

These Boots Are Made For Walking

College of Charleston has shown great patience at the plate so far this year, drawing 44 walks and posting a team on-base percentage of .355. The Cougars lead the SoCon in walks, while Brandon Murray (7) ranks third in the league individually.

Freshmen Stepping Up

College of Charleston coach Monte Lee has inserted freshmen Blake Butler and Alex Pastorius into the everyday starting lineup and both players have answered the call so early in their CofC careers. Butler is second on the team in walks (6) and has a .550 on-base percentage. Pastorius hit a two-run homer in just his second start at Jacksonville (2/27) and is hitting .300 so far this year.