NEW ORLEANS ? For the second straight day, the University of New Orleans baseball team got a solid starting pitching performance from a rookie. On Saturday, the Privateers broke out the bats as well.
UNO tallied 17 hits and took advantage of eight walks, as the Privateers (17-25, 8-12 Sun Belt Conference) notched a 13-6 win over visiting Arkansas State at Maestri Field.
Jay Morris hit a three-run homer, and Alan Harris hit a two-run shot to help UNO clinch its second straight SBC series.
Seven Privateers recorded multiple-hit games, led by Nick Mitchell's 3-for-6 afternoon. Leadoff man Tyrone Wethers went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Every starter got at least one hit.
Freshman Ricky Ott (1-1) picked up his first collegiate victory ? a day after right-hander Donnie White turned the trick. Ott went five innings and allowed only two runs ? a wind-aided two-run home run by ASU catcher Kyle DeGrace.
Andy Ferguson (3-4) picked up the loss for ASU (17-25, 7-13). The right-hander gave up six runs (four earned) and six hits while walking four.
ASU lost its ninth straight at Maestri Field. The Red Wolves have not won at UNO since April 20, 2002.
The Privateers struck early with a four-run first ? highlighted by Morris' second home run of the week. The sophomore hit an opposite field shot, taking advantage of a strong wind blowing to left field. Morris entered the week without a round tripper.
After DeGrace's home run in the second, the Privateers answered with two runs in the third thanks to Rodarrick Jones' two-run double and an infield RBI single by Justin Edwards.
UNO scored five runs in the middle innings to make it 11-2 and never looked back.
The Privateers will go for the weekend sweep at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
