JACKSON, Miss. -- Jackson State scored 10 runs in the middle innings, and the University of New Orleans made mistakes at the plate, on the base paths, in the field and on the mound, as the Tigers defeated UNO 10-7 on Tuesday night at the JSU Baseball Complex.
Catcher Jamaal Thelwell went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Marquise Zachary hit a two-run home run as JSU (27-14) snapped an eight-game losing streak against UNO (22-12).
Joey Butler went 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored, and Johnny Giavotella added three hits and an RBI for the Privateers. But UNO allowed five unearned runs and left 12 runners on base -- helping JSU to its sixth straight win.
"You have to come ready to play," said UNO head coach Tom Walter. "With the number of hits we got and the number of baserunners we had, to only score seven runs is unproductive."
Nicholas Williams (3-4) got the win for JSU, allowing four runs (one earned) in three innings of relief. Jim McGonigle (1-2) took the loss -- surrendering five runs (four earned) in 4 2/3 innings.
UNO hurt itself from the beginning. The Privateers had the bases loaded and nobody out in the first inning, but JSU starter Charles Williams escaped the jam by striking out Giavotella and Nick Schwaner before getting Jeff Lanning to ground out.
Despite leaving eight runners on base in the first five innings, UNO got two runs across in the fifth ? keyed by a Giavotella RBI single ? to grab a 3-1 lead.
JSU, though, came back with four runs in the bottom of the frame ? chasing McGonigle in the process ? and added five more in the sixth to take control. Four of the runs in the sixth were unearned due to two costly UNO errors.
The Privateers, who allowed nine unearned runs in a loss to Western Kentucky on Sunday, have allowed 14 unearned runs in their last two games.
Down 10-5 in the eighth, UNO fought back with two runs to make it 10-7. The Privateers had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but the rally was foiled when Schwaner was tagged out at the plate trying to score on a pitch that got away from Thelwell.
Pernell Halliman worked around two walks in the ninth by striking out the side to clinch the save.
UNO designated hitter Alan Harris, who grew up in nearby Clinton, Miss., went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Jay Morris also added two hits. The Privateers, though, were plagued with 14 strikeouts on the night.
“This is a loss we have got to put out of our heads, although I'm sure it will haunt us for a while,” Walter said. “Fortunately, in the game of baseball, you don't have time to think about it. We've got a very good LSU team coming to us (Wednesday), and we've got to be ready to play.”
The Privateers will return to Maestri Field on Wednesday, hosting LSU at 6:30 p.m.
