Jags look to continue winning ways vs. Xavier (La.)

UHV head coach Jonathan Stavinoha noticed something last week.

He's known the Jaguars' defense is solid and pitching has been stellar. But during a four-game sweep of Dallas Christian College, the bats came alive and the team hit a combined .414 while scoring 32 runs. During the four games, UHV (13-6, 2-4) had a .676 on-base percentage.

He hopes the team carries that same mentality when they welcome Xavier (La.) to Riverside Stadium for a three-game Red River Athletic Conference series, starting with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.

"We swung the bats much better," Stavinoha said. "We had guys locked in, getting more comfortable and taking better at-bats. We stayed away from strikeouts which have been a thorn in our side for the last few weeks."

Leading the way last week was senior infielder Hayden Leopold, who went 7-for-9 against the Crusaders with six RBIs and two doubles. His second double of the series, which came in the final game Saturday, was the 42^nd of the Columbus native's career, breaking John Longoria's mark set between 2010 and 2012.

Leopold has been on a tear to open the season, hitting .403 in 19 games, a mark that ranks sixth in the RRAC.  He's one of six Jaguars hitting .300 or better this year. Leopold also notched his first home run of the year.

The Jaguars also saw plenty of power last week with 19 extra-base hits in five games, including six home runs. Hal Perez hit his third and fourth homers of the year with a pair of three-run shots last weekend to lead the team with four. Raul Lopez hit the team's second triple of the year, as well.

"The long ball was there, but I'm more excited about the doubles and triple we hit," Stavinoha said. "That's more of our game where we hit the ball hard, find gaps, run and put pressure on the defense. Really proud of the way we attacked the baseball last week offensively."

UHV's staff ERA of 3.13 ranks second in the conference behind No. 5-ranked LSU Shreveport. Primary starters Mason Longoria (3.30), Brady Parker (2.48) and Julian Garcia (2.70) all have ERAs under 3.50 entering this week's series against the Gold Rush (8-8, 3-5).

Freshman Jacob Baker improved to 4-0 on the year with a win in Game 4 of last week's series with DCC in which he struck out a career-high six batters. The Cuero native and Parker's four wins rank sixth nationally.

Baker boasts a 1.93 ERA in five appearances, which ranks second in the conference.  The right-hander boasted a 0.75 ERA in starts against DCC and No. 21 Texas Wesleyan last week.

"He's kind of like a Swiss Army Knife," Stavinoha said of Baker. "You can start him in Game 4, start him in a midweek game and you can bring him out of the bullpen as a closer or long relief guy. It doesn't matter for him when he's on the mound. He's locked in and ready to execute."

Last year, the Jaguars swept the three-game series with the Gold Rush at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans. In those three games, UHV outscored Xavier 49-10.

Zion Morris leads Xavier in batting average at .354 and has stolen eight bases, which ranks fifth in the RRAC. Robert Robinson leads the team in RBIs and stolen bases this season with 14 and nine. His stolen base mark ranks fourth in the conference.

"Against Xavier, I think we match up well," Stavinoha said. "They're gonna have a couple of guys who can swing the bat. Their starters, we want to try to get them out of the game and get to their bullpen and try to do some things offensively. I think we match up well."

Saturday is Military Appreciation Night, meaning all active and retired members of the United States Armed Forces get in free.