NEW ORLEANS ? University of New Orleans freshman right-hander Donnie White tossed five solid innings, and the Privateer bullpen took it from there as UNO took a 4-2 win over Arkansas State on Friday night at Maestri Field.
Mats Mattson, Randy Verdin and David Burch combined to throw four scoreless innings to help UNO (16-25, 7-12 Sun Belt Conference) win its weekend opener for the second straight week.
Burch recorded the final six outs to claim his seventh save. He is 7-for-7 in save opportunities this year.
Rodarrick Jones hit a solo home run, and Tyrone Wethers and Alan Harris each went 2-for-4 to help the Privateers defeat ASU (17-24, 7-12) for the eighth straight time at home.
White (1-2) allowed two runs (one earned) in picking up his first collegiate victory.
“All four guys threw the ball well, and they've been throwing the ball well for us,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “We didn't back Donnie up defensively early, and that got his pitch count up. But our bullpen came in and did a great job.”
Chase Ware (4-2) got the hard-luck loss for the Red Wolves, as the senior right-hander threw a complete game and allowed only three earned runs. He scattered eight hits and struck out nine.
But UNO got to the ASU ace in the second with three straight two-out hits, starting with a towering home run from Jones.
Harris followed with a double to right field and scored on Justin Edwards' RBI single.
UNO scored in three straight at-bats and led 4-1 after four innings. ASU, which scored its first run on a safety squeeze in the second, got its second run in the fifth on a two-out error.
Mattson, Verdin and Burch combined to surrender just two hits in the final four innings.
The two teams will continue the three-game weekend series at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
