NEW ORLEANS ? Middle Tennessee hit four home runs, including two from designated hitter Ben Darlington, as the Blue Raiders took a 12-2 win at New Orleans on Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field.
Darlington drove in a career-high six RBIs, and Stuart Meinhart went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, as MT (9-2, 2-1 Sun Belt Conference) took the opening series in Sun Belt play.
Bryce Brentz added a two-run home run, and leadoff hitter Tyler Burnett (2-for-3) hit a solo shot.
Jud Stoltz (1-0) picked up the win after throwing five scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. The sophomore right-hander struck out four in his first career Sun Belt start.
He was helped out by a Blue Raider offense that scored the game's first nine runs, including four in the second inning off UNO starter Tyler Sanders (0-1).
The Privateers (5-7, 1-2) continued their recent offensive struggles, tallying just eight hits. Jay Morris went 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Ryan Eden hit a solo home run.
Sanders, making his first career weekend start, gave up five runs, four hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. UNO used six pitchers on the afternoon, with the five relievers combining to give up seven runs (five earned) and four walks.
“We just couldn't keep the ball in the park,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “Aside from a couple of guys, we're just really struggling on the mound right now.”
UNO, which has lost seven of its last nine, scored just nine runs in the three-game series.
“I've never really seen anything like it,” Walter said of the recent hitting woes. “Other than Jay Morris, we've got eight guys in the lineup who are really struggling. We just have to work a little harder and make improvements, and we'll do that and the results will turn around.”
UNO will wrap up an eight-game homestand on Tuesday with a 6:30 p.m. contest against Southern Mississippi.
