NEW ORLEANS ? Marist used a six-run second inning and took advantage of some sloppy University of New Orleans defense, as the Red Foxes took a 9-4 win on Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field.
Michael Gallic went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Kyle Meyer had three hits and an RBI as Marist (4-2) won a weekend series for the second straight week.
Junior right-hander B.J. Martin (1-0) tossed six innings and struck out seven, and Kyle Putnam worked the final three innings to pick up his first save.
UNO's Nick Schwaner went 2-for-4, including a towering two-run home run, and Alan Harris added a solo home run and two RBIs.
But the Privateers (4-3) committed four errors ? leading to a pair of unearned runs ? and struggled with windy conditions on the Lakefront.
Joe Zimmermann (0-1) struck out seven but gave up six runs (four earned) in five innings.
“Our defense didn't help us today,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “It was tough conditions, and we made a commitment to trying some guys in different positions to see what we have.”
The Red Foxes jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the second after scraping together four hits, including a two-run double by Gallic and RBI singles from Meyer, Kenny Anderson and an RBI double by Jon Schwind (2-for-5, two RBIs).
Marist was also aided by a pair of UNO dropped fly balls on a day where the winds were estimated at 20-30 miles per hour.
The Privateers got three runs back thanks to Schwaner's two-run shot in the third and a sacrifice fly from Harris.
Marist, though, put the game away with three runs in the seventh -- keyed by five straight hits to open the frame.
“We've wanted to put some guys in different spots and see what they can do,” Walter said. “We've got conference starting next week, so the season really starts then.”
UNO will host No. 1-ranked LSU in a 6:30 p.m. contest on Tuesday at Maestri Field. For ticket information, please call 504-280-GAME or log on to UNOPrivateers.com.
