NEW ORLEANS ? Alan Harris had two hits, including a two-run home run, and the University of New Orleans took advantage of five Southern errors as the Privateers took a 12-5 win on Thursday at Maestri Field.
Mark McGonigle went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, and T.J. Baxter had two hits with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs as the Privateers (31-13) won their sixth consecutive game.
Nick Schwaner hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give UNO an early lead, and seven different pitchers made it hold.
Randy Verdin (1-0) was credited with the win after working a perfect eighth inning. He struck out two.
It was UNO's second win in nine days against the Jaguars (23-15).
Michael Gavion went 3-for-5 with a solo home run to lead SU. Belfred Pryer (1-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs (none earned) and five hits in four innings.
Trailing 3-0 in the fourth, SU cut into the deficit thanks to an RBI double by Frazier Hall and a two-out RBI single from Calvin Anderson.
But the Privateers answered in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single by Baxter ? with Johnny Giavotella scoring on the play due to an error. Baxter later scored on a Jeff Lanning sacrifice fly to put UNO ahead 7-2.
After SU added a run in the fifth, the Privateers broke it open for good on an opposite-field, two-run home run by Harris in the bottom of the inning.
UNO has hit a home run in 17 straight games.
“Schwaner got us off to a good start and Mark McGonigle continues to swing the bat well for us,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter, whose team has won nine of its last 10. “We did a good job answering after they put up some runs, and this was a big win for us coming into a very important weekend.”
UNO will host Florida Atlantic in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series this weekend at Maestri Field. The two teams will kick off the set at 6:30 p.m. on Friday followed by a 2 p.m. game on Saturday and a 12:30 p.m. finale on Sunday.
