TROY, Ala. ?University of New Orleans right-hander Justin Garcia tossed his second career complete game to lead the Privateers to a 6-1 win at Troy on Friday at Riddle-Pace Field.
The Violet, La., product allowed just three hits and had a no-hitter through 7 1/3 innings, as UNO (15-8, 4-5 Sun Belt Conference) won its seventh game in eight outings.
T.J. Baxter went 2-for-5 with a key solo home run, and Johnny Giavotella, Nick Schwaner and Josh Vander Hey all added two hits. The Privateers had 11 hits overall.
But the night belonged to Garcia (2-0). The senior tied his career high ? set last week ? with nine strikeouts. His first hit allowed was a bloop single to center field.
The Trojans (16-9, 5-2) finally got on the board in the ninth inning, but a four-run eighth by UNO had already cinched the win. Three different Troy players had a hit.
It was Garcia's first complete game since a 2-0 shutout over Arkansas State on May 19, 2006.
“Justin Garcia was simply outstanding tonight,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “He had command of all four pitches. That is definitely the best I have ever seen him pitch, and we really needed it tonight because their pitcher was matching him pitch-for-pitch for seven innings.”
Tim Wheeler (1-4) got the loss for Troy. The right-hander, though, deserved a better fate after giving up an unearned run in the first and holding UNO scoreless for the next six innings.
Baxter, though, opened the floodgates for UNO with a one-out home run to left-center field. The next five batters reached base safely, with Vander Hey providing an RBI single and Mark McGonigle getting an RBI after getting hit with a pitch with the bases loaded.
Jerad Comarda added a sacrifice fly RBI in the ninth.
“T.J. Baxter got the biggest hit of the game,” Walter said. “His home run took the wind out of the sails of Wheeler, and our guys did a nice job of taking advantage from there.”
The two teams will continue the three-game series at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
