Privateers Drop Opener in 14

Indiana State scored a run in the ninth and another in the 14th to overcome a Privateers rally and take game one at Zephyr Field. New Orleans (3-5) trailed 4-0 after a half an inning but rallied to lead 7-6 after eight innings. In the ninth, a two-out bases empty error kept the Sycamores alive to eventually score the tying run on a wild pitch. In the 14th, the Privateers seventh official error of the night allowed the decisive run to score.

Tyler Schwaner (0-1) took the extremely tough luck loss for New Orleans. The freshman allowed one unearned run in five innings of work out of the Privateers bullpen.

New Orleans and Indiana State will play game two of the series Saturday at Zephyr Field. First pitch is at 12:00 noon. Darron McKigney is expected to start for the Privateers.

Official box score

SFA crushes UNO, Extends Win Streak

Thomas Walkup led
SFA with 28 points

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (26-2, 15-0) put on a clinic Thursday night, cruising past the Privateers (11-12, 8-7) in a historic Lakefront Arena beatdown, 103-63. SFA jumped all over UNO early and was never threatened on their way to their 23rd consecutive win.

Isaac Mack led the Privateers with 15 points in the losing effort.

Official box score
Discussion

UNO, Texas Southern Split DH

Randolph had two homers
in the doubleheader

The Privateers (3-4) split a doubleheader with Texas Southern Tuesday night at Wesley Barrow Stadium, winning game one 4-3 and dropping game two 3-1.

Freshman outfielder Hezekiah Randolph homered twice for New Orleans on the night, giving UNO the winning margin in the first game and their only run in the second.

Official box score (game 1)
Official box score (game 2)
Discussion

PI Podcast Episode #15

Topics of discussion: The SLU basketball win and upcoming home games vs. undefeated (did we mention they're undefeated? GET TO THE ARENA) Southland leader Stephen F. Austin as well as Northwestern State; the baseball series against South Alabama and this week's upcoming games; the bare-bones Zephyr Field experience.

We don't bash Tulane fans in this one, but go ahead and download it anyway. To listen, go to our Podcast page, get the direct download here, or you can Subscribe on iTunes.

Happy Birthday, Tim Floyd

Tomorrow is Tim Floyd's 60th birthday. Privateer Island looks back 25 years to Coach Floyd's 35th birthday week, the stretch run of the 1988-89 season in which UNO beat 12th ranked Florida State and then secured an outright conference title with wins over Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State.  The Privateers had been a consensus last place preseason pick in the American South.

Local highlights as well as ESPN and CNN highlights are included.

Sunday Baseball Washed Out

Sunday's baseball game between New Orleans and South Alabama has been cancelled due to rain.

UNO Escapes 9th, Beats Jags

Winter closes out the Jags

The Privateers (2-3) survived a bases-loaded jam in the 9th inning and escaped Zephyr Field with a 4-3 win over the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday afternoon.

New Orleans also escaped a jam in the eighth inning, when Chaz Boyer made an unbelievable catch in center field, stranding two Jaguars baserunners. UNO's Athletic Department has posted this video of the catch.

Hunter Medine, Seth Laigast, and Ray Winter pitched effectively in relief, and first baseman Cameron Hoffman drilled the first Privateer homer of the season in the 7th to give UNO their eventual winning margin.

Official box score
Discussion

USA Blanks UNO in Series Opener

Reese Kanter had one of three
UNO hits Friday night

New Orleans was held to just three base hits, all singles, in a 5-0 defeat to the South Alabama Jaguars Friday night at Zephyr Field.

Alex Smith took the loss on the mound for the Privateers.

The two teams will face off in game two of the three game series on Saturday. First pitch from Zephyr Field will be at 2:00 pm.

Discussion

Game One Official box score

Privateers Surge Past SLU

Freshman G Tevin Broyles

The Privateers (11-11, 8-6), trailed by four at the intermission but surged past visiting Southeastern Louisiana in the second half on the way to a 67-58 victory at Lakefront Arena.

UNO got 18 points and 13 rebounds from sophomore Kevin Hill as well as a career-high 17 from freshman Tevin Broyles.

Official box score
Game thread

PI Podcast Episode #14

Topics of discussion: Basketball games vs. Nicholls and McNeese, a look ahead to SLU and a further look ahead to playing a potentially undefeated SFA the following week, and a thoughtful critique of Southland Conference officiating.

Starting at the 28:00 mark, a review of the baseball games vs. LSU and Southern over the weekend, a look ahead to the South Alabama series, and a thoughtful critique of our Tulane friends regarding the Tuesday baseball postponement.

To listen, go to our Podcast page, get the direct download here, or you can Subscribe on iTunes.

McNeese Blitzes UNO Late

Mack: 14 pts, 6 rebs, 8 asts

Behind an inspired performance by Ledrick Eackles, son of Ledell, McNeese rallied from seven down late to beat the Privateers at Lakefront Arena, 72-69.

Eackles, on 6-of-8 shooting (4-of-4 from three point range), had 20 points to lead the Cowboys, including 11 consecutive down the stretch as part of a late 15-2 run.

Official box score
Discussion

Baseball Beats Southern

New Orleans (1-2) pounded out 14 hits on their way to a 9-1 victory over the Southern Jaguars, the first win of the second Ron Maestri era. The game took place at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Official box score
Discussion

LSU Holds Off UNO Rally

Capielano hits an RBI single
to put UNO ahead in the first

The nationally-ranked LSU Tigers took a 7-1 lead on the Privateers, surrendered a three-run sixth, then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to hang on for a 7-4 win. New Orleans (0-2) got two RBIs each from Samuel Capielano and Jonathan Santana.

UNO will head back to Alex Box Stadium tomorrow for a game against the Southern Jaguars.

Official box score
Game thread

LSU Battles Past Privateers, 2-0

New Orleans (0-1) got solid pitching from starter Ray Winter as well as relievers Darron McKigney and Seth Laigast, but the Privateer offense could never get on track against LSU All-American Aaron Nola or the Tiger bullpen in a 2-0 defeat at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge.

The Privateers and Tigers will meet again tomorrow at Zephyr Field at 2 p.m.

Game thread

UNO gets by Nicholls, 70-64

Senior Cory Dixon

The Privateers (10-10, 7-5) fended off a Nicholls second half rally and defended their home court on Homecoming night, winning a 70-64 victory. UNO led by six at the half before losing the lead briefly at 54-53. New Orleans regained the lead and maintained a narrow one the rest of the way.

Cory Dixon led UNO with 26 points and shot 16-for-17 from the free throw line.

Official box score
Game thread

Baseball Preview Podcast: Episode #13

A special "baseball season preview" edition of the Privateer Island Podcast is out in advance of opening day.

We discuss the returnees, who left the program, and do our best to guess about the 17 newcomers we've never seen. Plus a few Privateer Island Radio memories from last season, and some more reiteration that Ron Maestri is UNO's head baseball coach. We close the episode with an update on the two Privateers in Major League Baseball, Joey Butler and Johnny Giavotella.

To listen, go to our Podcast page, get the direct download here, or you can Subscribe on iTunes.

PI Podcast Episode #12

Topics of discussion: The ORU loss, the Central Arkansas win, and a look ahead to this week's long-awaited return home to Lakefront Arena against Nicholls and McNeese. Also a quick review of the Southland Conference standings as the league's teams begin the home stretch of the 2013-14 season.

To listen, go to our Podcast page, get the direct download here, or you can Subscribe on iTunes.

Weekly Southland Power Rankings

The top three teams in the Southland conference held serve over the past week and kept their spots in this week's league power rankings.

Our @UNOPrivatr posted a rundown over at Mid-Major Madness.

Privateers Fight Off UCA

Dixon: 20 points, 7 rebounds

New Orleans (9-10, 6-5) opened a small but consistent lead throughout the second half and were able to hold off host Central Arkansas, 88-79, to complete a 4-1 road trip. Senior Cory Dixon paced the Privateers with 20 points in the winning effort.

UNO will finally return home to Lakefront Arena this Thursday for a rematch with Nicholls, who defeated them 88-83 in the league opener.

Official box score
Game thread

ORU Ends UNO Winning Streak

Christavious Gill

Oral Roberts ended the Privateers' (8-10, 5-5) three-game winning streak in resounding fashion on Thursday, hammering UNO 79-59 in Tulsa. Although freshman Christavious Gill's three-game career-high points streak ended as well, he still led the New Orleans effort with 12 points. Fellow freshman James Harrison added 10.

UNO next travels to Central Arkansas on Saturday for an ESPN3 game.

Official box score
Game thread

PI Podcast Episode #11

Episode #11 of the Privateer Island Podcast is up.

Topics of discussion: The Privateer road warriors' three-game winning streak, this week's games at ORU and UCA, and a quick glance further ahead at the huge week in UNO athletics spanning February 13 through the 16th. Also, we start the show with a rundown of UNO's part in a big day on the college athletics landscape.

To listen, go to our Podcast page, get the direct download here, or you can Subscribe on iTunes.

Southland Conference Power Rankings

At the halfway point of the Southland Conference season, our own @UNOPrivatr breaks down the league, power rankings style.

Read it at Mid Major Madness.