MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Middle Tennessee scored five runs in its final two at-bats during a 6-2 win over visiting New Orleans on Sunday.
All-America outfielder Bryce Brentz hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, and the Blue Raiders (33-19, 17-10 Sun Belt Conference) added three more in the eighth to complete a three-game weekend sweep.
Brentz and leadoff hitter Zach Hudson each had two hits and two RBIs, part of an 11-hit day for MT. Right-hander Eric Gilley (6-2) got the win on the mound, working 7 1/3 innings and giving up just two runs and six hits.
Senior second baseman
Nick Schwaner hit a solo home run for UNO (12-37, 2-26), his team-best 17th home run of the year. The second-inning blast moved him within four home runs of tying Brian Traxler for first place on the school's all-time home runs list.
Senior catcher
Tyler Sanford broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run in the seventh, and senior
Tyrone Wethers went 2-for-3.
Redshirt freshman
Kevin Berry (2-5) took the loss, though the right-hander kept UNO in it throughout. After fighting his control and giving up a run in the first, Berry did not allow a run over the next five innings.
But MT finally got to him in the seventh. Trailing 2-1, Brentz hit a two-run home run to right-center field to give the hosts the lead.
MT got a two-out, two-run single from Hudson in the eighth to make it 5-2, and Blake McDade (1-for-4) followed with an RBI single off reliever
Tyler Sanders to provide the final margin.
The game marked UNO's final contest as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Privateers have applied to the NCAA seeking reclassification to the Division III level.
UNO will wrap up the season with a four-game series this week at Creighton. The series begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
