NEW ORLEANS ? The University of New Orleans tallied 16 runs in the first three innings as the Privateers cruised to an 18-9 win over South Alabama on Saturday at Maestri Field.
Joey Butler went 5-for-6 with a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored, and Mark McGonigle went 2-for-3 with a grand slam as the Privateers (12-7, 3-4 Sun Belt Conference) won their fourth straight.
UNO had 13 hits and three home runs in the first three frames and finished with five home runs and 22 hits overall.
It marked the most runs UNO has scored against South Alabama since a 24-4 win on April 13, 1993.
“I'm really happy for Joey Butler,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “He hasn't been swinging the bat well lately, and today he hit the ball hard in every at-bat. He's such a big part of our offense, so to see him get it going is huge.”
T.J. Baxter was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Johnny Giavotella had two hits and four RBIs. Ryan Eden and Josh Vander Hey also had two hits each.
Bryan Cryer (4-1) went five innings to pick up the win. The senior right-hander worked out of a first-inning jam, giving up only one run, and settled in from there. Cryer struck out six and allowed five hits.
USA starter Lance Baxter (1-4) could not get out of the second inning. After giving up a three-run home run to Giavotella in the first inning, the left-hander was responsible for four runs during a seven-run Privateer second inning.
Michael Knipper got the scoring going with a three-run home run to right field before Baxter, Giavotella and Vander Hey had three straight RBI singles. UNO saw its first eight baserunners reach safely during the inning.
“We did a nice job going the other way,” Walter said. “Knipper's home run was opposite field and we had a few other guys that hit the ball hard the other way. That's what you have to do against a pitcher like (Baxter).”
UNO followed with a six-spot in the third inning, keyed by McGonigle's grand slam, to make it 16-1. Both teams gradually emptied the benches, as the schools combined to use 36 different players.
Sean Laird came off the bench to hit two home runs with five RBIs for the Jaguars (11-10, 1-4). Chris Davis and Derek O'Reilly each had two hits, part of a 16-hit day for USA. The Jaguars scored eight runs in the final three innings.
UNO will try for the three-game sweep at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Maestri Field.
