NEW ORLEANS ? Jerad Comarda hit two home runs and had a career-high five RBIs to help the University of New Orleans take a marathon 15-14 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday at Maestri Field.
Comarda's two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh broke a 13-13 tie and helped hand UNO (22-29, 12-15 Sun Belt Conference) its fourth consecutive SBC series win.
He was part of a UNO lineup that saw its 4-8 hitters go 14-for-22 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. Comarda went 4-for-4 and scored three runs.
Comarda, who entered the week with one hit in his last 26 at-bats, went 8-for-19 with eight RBIs this week.
“The Tulane game really helped Jerad,” said UNO head coach Tom Walter. “He got back to getting inside the ball. Jerad and Nick Schwaner both came up with some big home runs today, and they stepped up with the game on the line.”
Schwaner was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, while left fielder Rodarrick Jones went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Designated hitter Alan Harris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Justin Edwards added two hits and an RBI.
Jones also came up with the defensive play of the game, throwing out the potential tying run in the ninth inning. After Matt Apfel sent a base hit to left field, Jones threw a strike to catcher Kyle Maldonado -- who made a sweeping tag to nail Tim Emmons at the plate.
The gem gave senior David Burch his ninth save, though he did have his 12 2/3 innings scoreless streak broken on an RBI single from Emmons.
Emmons had a career-high two home runs and seven RBIs for UALR (15-32, 6-19). The Trojans managed 18 hits, with Emmons going 4-for-5. Apfel and Tyson Parks each had three hits and an RBI.
UNO sophomore right-hander Tyler Sanders (1-2) picked up his first career victory after tossing two innings. He was one of seven Privateer pitchers.
Left-hander Andrew Loe (0-2) was credited with the loss.
“With all of the injuries we have had, we are just happy to get a series win,” Walter said. “Missing guys like Donnie White and Jake Henderson really hurts our pitching staff.
“We were short-handed this weekend, and UALR played with a lot of energy, so it was a very tough series.”
UNO will play its final non-conference game of the year on Tuesday at Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on Cox Sports Television.
