NEW ORLEANS -
Nick Schwaner hit a walk-off home run to left field, his
second blast of the day as New Orleans avoided a weekend sweep with an
8-7 victory over Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field.
The home run capped a 3-for-5 day for the senior, who was the first batter to come up for UNO (10-20, 2-13 Sun Belt) against Andy Mee (1-1) in the bottom of the ninth after FAU (18-14, 9-6 SBC) tied the game in the top of the inning on an Eddie Cassidy home run.
Schwaner's first home run came in the bottom of the third with UNO trailing 4-0. After
Jay Morris and John Thomas reached base, Schwaner connected on a 1-0 pitch from FAU starter Kevin Alexander that went over the left field wall.
UNO continued to trail as FAU moved ahead 6-3 in the fourth, taking advantage of a Privateer error in the frame.
The Privateers' offense did not slow down, scoring two more runs in the fifth as 4 of 5 UNO batters to start the inning reached base. UNO added two more runs in the seventh with a
Rodarrick Jones single to right field off of Taylor Everist scoring
Nolan Church for home team's first lead at 7-6.
The Cassidy home run off of
Tyler Sanders (1-0) knotted the game, but Sanders would get the win in relief after allowing just the one run in 1 2/3rd innings of work. Sanders had taken over for
Ricky Ott, who held the Owls without a run over 2 1/3 innings, allowing the Privateers to rally from a 6-3 deficit upon his arrival.
Church, Morris and
Mike Petello had matching 2-for-4 performances at the plate for the Privateers. Nick Delguidice was the top hitter for the Owls, going 3-for-5 with a solo home run to lead off the second inning.
UNO will remain home for a Tuesday contest against Southern Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
