MOBILE, Ala. – After four weeks of intrasquad scrimmages, South Alabama baseball takes on its first outside competition of the season with a pair of exhibition games this weekend. The Jags host Meridian Community College Saturday at noon and Northwest Florida State College Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games are at Stanky Field.

Saturday’s game against Meridian is scheduled for seven innings, but the teams are allowed to play for up to four hours, so they will play a second game with the remaining time. After the seven-inning game ends, there will be a brief break for field maintenance before the new game begins. The second game will last as long as possible within the initial four-hour timeframe.

Sunday’s game with Northwest Florida State, formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton College, will be played as a regular nine-inning game. USA baseball's Dugout Club will hold its first meeting of the season in the Stadium Club after the game  

NCAA rules allow teams to play exhibition games against outside competition during the fall, but any player who plays in one of the exhibitions will be ineligible to take a non-medical redshirt for the 2009 baseball season. With that in mind, only a few newcomers will see action over the weekend. Admission to both games is free.

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).