MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama baseball signed Cody Van Aken to a National Letter of Intent, as announced Friday by head coach Mark Calvi.

Van Aken will have two years of eligibility remaining after spending his sophomore season at Santa Barbara City College last year where he went 3-0 with two saves in 22 appearances. He posted a 1.80 ERA in 40 innings pitched, and struck out 24 batters against 10 walks. He recorded 13 scoreless appearances while limiting opponents to a .187 batting average.

He helped SBCC to a 27-15 record en route to the program's best-ever postseason finish (T-5th). Van Aken spent his freshman season at Cal State Monterey Bay – a Division II school in Seaside, Calif.

The 6-1, 195-pound right-hander from Morgan Hill, Calif., was a three-time all-Blossom League selection at Live Oak High School.

"Cody is a sidearm reliever who is low-to-mid 80s with a good slider and has good sink," Calvi said. "He had a very good sophomore year, and he is having a great summer with the Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League. He is a great addition to our bullpen. Cody is an older guy with experience, and he has put up great numbers. We are glad to have him here."

Van Aken has recorded 31 strikeouts against just four walks in 24 1/3 innings pitched this summer with the Foresters, and is 3-0 with two saves. He has a 1.11 ERA and has limited the opposition to a .186 batting average.

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