AUGUSTA, Ga. - Augusta State head baseball coach Chris Cooper announced Friday the addition of second baseman Jeff Rice to the Jaguar Baseball program.

A local product from Martinez who prepped at Evans High, Rice spent his freshman season as a redshirt at Mercer University. He did not see any on-field action for the Bears and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

“Jeff has a very high baseball IQ and, as a coaching staff, we feel that is one of those intangibles you just can’t teach,” Cooper said. “Jeff is capable of stepping in right away and being a leader for us. With his ability to work the count and hit the ball to all fields, he can hit in a number of different spots in the lineup. He should be in the mix for the second base job, which will be wide open with the departure of all-conference utility man Tony Baker.”

In his first year at the helm of the ASU Baseball program in 2010, Cooper guided the Jaguars to a 16-31 overall record. ASU is expected to return five starters and 28 letterwinners for the 2011 season.