MOBILE, Ala. -
Nick Schwaner hit a two-run, two-out double in the fifth
inning that jump-started a University of New Orleans hitting spree as
the Privateers defeated South Alabama 12-5 on Saturday afternoon at
Stanky Field.
Schwaner's double capped a three-run inning for UNO (6-13, 2-6 Sun Belt) while ending the day for USA (8-13, 1-4 SBC) starter Lance Baxter (2-2), who allowed five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.
The hits continued to come for the Privateers, who matched a season-high with 17 hits in the game, helping New Orleans native
Joe Zimmermann (1-2) pick up his first collegiate victory. The freshman pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and five runs, three of which were earned while striking out four.
“The story of the day was Zimmermann,” said head coach
Tom Walter. “When we needed it most, we had a freshman go out and despite the weight on shoulders, came out to pitch his best outing of the year.”
Ryan Eden and
Nick Mitchell each drove in three runs for the Privateers, who snapped a school-record tying eight-game losing kid. Eden went 2-for-2 after coming off the bench while
Jay Morris scored three runs after batting 3-for-5 in the game.
David Doss was the top hitter on the day for the Jaguars, going 2-for-4, scoring a run and adding 2 RBIs.
The Privateers started the scoring in the first inning, matching their previous night's hit total with three consecutive hits, which brought across two runs.
USA cut into the lead in the bottom of the first as Craig Reynolds reached on a walk, before stealing second and eventually reaching home as the Privateers committed two errors on the play, in an attempt to prevent the steal.
Two innings later, Reynolds reached base on an error as the Jaguars would capitalize and leave the third with a 4-2 advantage. A Doss two-run triple keyed the inning with Doss scoring a batter later on a Ryan Bohanan sacrifice fly.
UNO would remain quiet as Baxter retired nine straight batters he faced, four on strikeouts, before the Privateers loaded the bases with one out in the fourth before. The USA starter struck out the next two to get out of the inning.
The inning represented a sign of things to come, as the first three batters reached in the fifth inning.
Roddarick Jones led off the frame with a double, followed by a Mitchell walk. Baxter put down the next two UNO batters before Schwaner delivered a two-run, two-out double to right field that put the Privateers on top 5-4.
The hits continued to come as UNO added six more runs against the Jaguar bullpen during the seventh and eighth innings. A three-run Eden triple in the eighth ended the scoring and provided the final score.
The rubber game of the series will get underway on Sunday at 1 p.m. with
Cory Myers (0-2, 8.24 ERA) taking the mound for UNO against USA's Brandon Sage (1-2, 3.27 ERA)
