USA Walks Away With a Win

OF Tristan Clarke

The Privateer offense got back on track with a solid effort on Tuesday night in Mobile, but a barrage of wildness from the UNO pitching staff was too much to overcome in a 10-7 defeat at the hands of South Alabama.

New Orleans pitchers issued 11 walks, six wild pitches, and two hit batsmen, enabling the host Jaguars to outscore their offense.

Tristan Clarke knocked in three runs to lead the Privateers (6-3), and Sam Capielano contributed three hits as well.

UNO returns home for a weekend series against Alcorn State starting on Friday.

Frustrating 10th Inning Dooms UNO

Cable was a bright spot
in Sunday's loss

For the second consecutive day, New Orleans and Troy went to extra innings at Maestri Field. But on Sunday, the outcome wasn't as happy for the Privateers (6-2), who fell 4-3.

In the top of the tenth, two tough plays that could have been made but weren't -- a screaming liner off the glove of second baseman Sam Capielano and a sinking liner off the glove off left fielder Dakota Dean -- opened the door just enough for Troy to take a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the frame, the Privateers got back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second with nobody out for Tristan Clarke. But Clarke, after getting ahead 2-0 and 3-2, flew out. Hezekiah Randolph grounded to the pitcher, and after an intentional walk to John Cable, pinch hitter Jay Robinson struck out looking.

Cable had a tremendous day for a Privateer offense that was otherwise held in check in consecutive games by the Troy pitching staff. Cable went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple.

Setback: Demons Beat UNO

The Privateers, trying to close out a regular season Southland title, dropped a back-and-forth contest at Northwestern State on Saturday afternoon, 83-82.

The Demons, in 12th place in the league to start the day, benefited from the return of injured star Zeek Woodley, who burned New Orleans for 28 points, including the game winner with 4.3 seconds left. UNO (17-10, 12-4) appeared sluggish and displayed none of the defensive intensity that got them an emotional blowout win over Stephen F. Austin earlier in the week.

Erik Thomas led the Privateer effort with 23 points.

UNO Wins... Pitcher's Duel? Really?

Bryan Warzek, and later Rafael
Martinez, kept UNO in a pitcher's duel

Yep, they did.

A day after what appeared to be a typical 2017 outing -- a slugfest, and in this case a 12-9 loss to Troy -- the Privateers (6-1) held the Trojans offense in check even as their own hitters uncharacteristically struggled. But in the end, a Dakota Phillips grounder through the legs of Troy second baseman Brandon Lockridge sent UNO home a 3-2 winner in 13 innings.

Bryan Warzek provided New Orleans with a much-needed quality start, throwing six innings and surrendering just two runs. The bullpen was also effective, led by Rafael Martinez's sparkling 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball to finish the game.  Martinez has yet to walk a batter in his 9 1/3 innings thus far this season.

UNO and Troy will play the rubber match tomorrow at noon at Maestri Field.

Troy Deals UNO First Loss

3B Owen Magee

Baseball teams don't go undefeated, and Friday night saw the Privateers (5-1) finally unable to outslug someone, falling to Troy 12-9 at Maestri Field.

With Shawn Semple sitting out this series with a concussion, Riley Hodge got the Friday start and was promptly knocked out of the game in the third inning, unable to hold an early 6-2 New Orleans lead.  Relief pitching was just as spotty for the home team, and the Bucs couldn't hold Troy down long enough for its potent lineup to make a comeback.

It was, however, another sparkling outing for the offense, led by third baseman Owen Magee's two home runs. Tristan Clarke also homered for the third consecutive game.

Game two against Troy will begin tomorrow at noon at Maestri Field.